LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

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SCHOLARSHIP  WITHOUT  GOOD  BREEDING  IS  ONLY  HALF 
AN  EDUCATION." 


THE 


PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS: 


A   HELP  TO 


SCHOOL  AND  HOME  GOVERNMENT. 


BY 

ALEX.   M.   GOW,  A.M. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.   B.  LIPPINCOTT    COMPANY. 


Copyright,  1883,  by  J.  B.  LIPPINOOTT  &  Co. 


PREFACE. 


HE  is  best  taught  who  has  learned  the  secret  of  self- 
control. 

He  is  best  governed  who  is  self-governed. 

Other  things  being  equal,  that  school  is  the  best  where 
the  government  is  the  result  of  moral  and  not  of  physical 
force. 


HINTS  TO  TEACHERS. 


THE  Primer  of  Politeness  has  been  prepared  to  assist 
teachers  and  parents.  It  may  be  used  as  a  text-book,  or, 
preferably,  as  a  class-book  for  study  by  the  pupils. 

All  that  is  hinted  at  in  this  little  book  well-bred  people 
know,  but  such  knowledge  is  not  intuitive,  and  it  must  be 
taught,  if  taught  at  all,  to  the  majority  of  children  at  school. 

The  questions  are  numbered  for  facility  of  reference. 
Fifteen  minutes  a  day  spent  in  the  discussion  of  the  prin- 
ciples involved  in  this  little  book  of  illustrations  will 
enlighten  the  minds,  awaken  the  consciences,  and  control 
the  actions  of  any  ordinary  children,  and  the  few  who  are 
not  governed  by  the  instructions  of  the  teacher  will  be 
controlled  by  the  popular  sentiment  of  the  school. 

The  questions  proposed  are  merely  suggestive,  but  they 
by  no  means  exhaust  the  subject.  The  habit  of  reading 
or  hearing  the  illustrations  read,  and  repeating  their  sub- 
stance, is  very  valuable,  not  only  as  an  intellectual  exercise, 
but  as  a  training  in  morals.  The  habit  also  of  discussing 
the  principles  of  moral  obligation  is  invaluable.  Hoping 
that  the  effort  to  help  the  teacher  and  the  children  in  the 
government  of  the  school  will  meet  with  approval,  I  sub- 
scribe myself  their  friend, 

THE  AUTHOR. 
WASHINGTON,  PENNSYLVANIA. 
4 


CONTENTS. 


Politeness H 

POLITENESS  AND  HAPPINESS 11 

True  Politeness ...  12 

Help  Each  Other ,      .        •        .13 

The  Worth  of  Politeness 14 

A  Lesson  to  Learners 15 

The  Boy  and  his  Boat 15 

Conscience 16 

A  Troubled  Conscience 17 

The  Window-Breaker's  Conscience 18 

Habits 20 

The  Weaver  Boy's  Hahit  of  Study       .        .        .        .        .        .21 

Good  Habits  make  Good  Character 21 

Benedict  Arnold's  Boyhood 22 

Farragut's  Change  of  Habit 23 

A  Battle  with  Habits  of  Appetite 24 

The  Uncontrolled  Appetite 26 

"I  Can't" 27 

"I'll  Try,  Sir" 27 

Society 29 

"  The  New  Commandment" 29 

THE  MORAL  LAW 30 

An  Englishman  in  Italy       ........  31 

Social  Grades 32 

HOHOR  TO  PARENTS ,  .  33 

Washington's  Regard  for  his  Mother 33 

A  Wise  Mother  and  a  Dutiful  Son 33 

Hurting  his  Father  .........34 

HONOR  TO  TEACHERS  . 35 

Bad  Company  and  Bad  Advice 35 

HONOR  TO  THE  AGED 36 

"Somebody's  Mother" 36 

How  School-boys  Preached  a  Sermon 36 

POLITENESS  TO  SUPERIORS 37 

An  Elderly  Customer 37 

A*  6 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

Social  Grades— Continued. 

POLITENESS  TO  EQUALS 39 

BROTHERS  AND  SISTERS 39 

The  Young  Nurse 40 

SCHOOL-MATES  AS  EQUALS 41 

Losing  a  Button 41 

POLITENESS  TO  INFERIORS 42 

Assumed  Superiority,  a  Fable 43 

"  In  Honor  preferring  One  Another" 43 

Personal  Habits       .       .       . 46 

THE  SKIN 46 

THE  NAILS 46 

THE  HAIR 47 

THE  TEETH         .        . 47 

THE  DRESS 47 

What  a  Clean  Apron  Did 47 

Appearances  Deceitful 49 

Mortified.— Mrs.  Porter's  Bonnet 50 

Church  Costume 52 

Language.  .  53 

"  Street  Talk" 53 

SWEARING 54 

Rowland  Hill  and  the  Sea-Captain 54 

A  Polite  Reproof 55 

A  Rebuke 56 

The  Prayer 56 

Silliness  of  Swearing 57 

Afraid  to  Swear  Alone 58 

AN  AGREEABLE  VOICE 59 

What  to  do  when  Angry 60 

MANNER  OF  SPEAKING .  60 

Forgetting  Names 61 

Gracefulness 62 

*-  Awkward  Habits 62 

WALKING  GRACEFULLY 63 

SITTING  GRACEFULLY 63 

THE  AGREEABLE  COUNTENANCE 64 

An  Ugly  Face— But ! 64 

Habits  of  Mind 66 

FIRST  PURE 66 

Mischief  of  Bad  Pictures 66 

A  Boy's  Career 67 


CONTENTS. 


Habits  of  Mind— Continued. 

PEACEABLE 69 

"  His  Passionate  Temper" 70 

How  He  Did  It 72 

A  Cure  for  Loss  of  Temper .73 

A  Brave  Act 74 

Humphry  Davy's  Bravery          .......  76 

Being  Laughed  At  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .76 

A  Noble  Fisher-Boy 77 

The  Heroio  Young  Sailor  .  79 

THE  PEACE-MAKER  .                81 

Gentle 82 

Easy  to  be  Entreated 82 

Merciful 83 

MERCY  TO  MANKIND  .........  83 

The  Quaker's  Charity 84 

Helping  a  Convict 84 

MERCY  TO  CRIMINALS 87 

The  Convict  and  his  Cucumber- Vine 87 

MERCY  TO  ANIMALS .88 

How  the  Dumb  Creatures  loved  Him 89 

Kindness  to  the  Pony 90 

The  Mexican  and  his  Mule 91 

Rebuked  by  a  Lady 92 

ANIMALS  FOR  FOOD .  .  .93 

Hunting  for  Sport 94 

Robbing  a  Bird's-Nest 95 

Taming  a  Squirrel 96 

Fruits  of  Good  Living 98 

TEMPERANCE  IN  FOOD «...  99 

TEMPERANCE  IN  DRINK 100 

A  Good  Temperance  Story 100 

Refusing  to  Drink  Wine  with  Washington        ....  101 

Mr.  Greeley  and  the  Brandy 103 

Strong  Drink  as  Medicine 103 

Alcohol  and  Exposure        .....         .        *        .  105 

"You  Tempted  Me" 106 

"Will  you  Take  the  Responsibility?" 107, 

The  Infatuation  of  Appetite .108 

The  Monkey  and  the  Drunkard 109 

A  Sad  Story 110 

A  Cold-Water  Hero 112 

What  Alcohol  will  do  .        .113 


8  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Fruits  of  Good  Living— Continued. 

An  English  Girl's  Wise  Decision 114 

What  Love  can  do 115 

What  He  Lost 116 

An  Awakened  Conscience 118 

The  Youth's  Execution 119 

THE  TOBACCO  HABIT         .                         120 

A  Chance  for  Saving 121 

Partiality  and  Hypocrisy 122 

PARTIALITY 123 

The  False  Witness .123 

The  Senator's  Oath    .        .        . 125 

THE  GOSSIP 126 

Need  of  Watching 126 

The  Origin  of  Scandal 127 

The  Gossip  Rebuked 129 

A  Life  Huined  by  a  Slander 130 

The  Monarch's  Question 131 

Too  Sure 131 

THE  TATTLER 132 

A  Brave  Boy 133 

HYPOCRIST 135 

A  LIE 135 

The  Old  Habit 136 

Lying  is  Lying 137 

Tell-tale  Pumpkin-seeds 138 

He  Could  Be  Trusted 139 

THE  PROMISE 140 

Sacredness  of  a  Promise 140 

His  Promise  to  Pay 142 

A  Promising  Shoemaker 143 

A  Truthful  Indian 143 

Habits  of  Labor 145 

Working  for  an  Education 145 

Lyman  Beecher  as  a  Peddler      .......  146 

Improving  Opportunities    ........  147 

PROPERTY 148 

Washington  at  Dorchester 149 

The  Young  Chair-Makers 150 

Not  Ashamed  of  his  Trade 152 

Alexis  and  the  Workmen 153 

Reverses  of  Fortune 155 

A  Hint  for  the  Girls  .                156 


CONTENTS.  9 


PAQH 

Habits  of  Economy 157 

Difference  between  Saving  and  Spending 157 

Beginning  Badly 158 

Helping  his  Wife 159 

How  Money  Growa .  160 


Habits  of  Business 161 

Hia  Word  hia  Bond 161 

A  High  Sense  of  Honor 164 

Is  Your  Note  Good  ? .165 

Doing  Business  Honestly 166 

How  She  Managed  It 168 

A  Hole's  Weight 169 

HIRING  LABOR «       .       •       .       .  171 

Wheeled  Himself  into  Fortune 171 

A  Sensible  Miner 174 

HIRING  AND  RENTING  PROPERTY 175 

BORROWING ,..  175 

The  Borrowed  Tiger 176 

BORROWING  BOOKS 176 

BORROWING  MONEY 177 

True  Pride 178 

Covetousness 180 

Covetousness  Punished 180 

LOST  PROPERTY 181 

Honesty  the  Best  Policy .181 

WILD  GAVE 182 

GAMBLING 183 

An  Eye  for  a  Pin  . 183 

THE  LOTTERY 185 

Lottery  and  Suicide 185 

CHURCH-FAIR  LOTTERIES 186 

STEALING 187 

An  Honest  Boy .  .  .188 

The  Incorruptible  Duke 189 

PUBLIC  PROPERTY 190 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  at  Home       .  192 

RISING  IN  THE  MORNING 192 

ENTERING  ROOMS 193 

HOME  ENGAGEMENTS 194 

A  Royal  Reproof 194 


10  CONTENTS. 


PAQB 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  at  the  Table .  196 

KNIFE,  FORK,  AND  SPOON 198 

TABLE-CLOTH  AND  NAPKIN 198 

CONVERSATION  AT  TABLE 198 

THE  SERVANTS 199 

LEAVING  THE  TABLE        .......                .  200 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  on  the  Street  200 

STREET  DRESS 200 

PASSING  ON  THE  STREET ...  201 

Only  a  Broken  Hoop 202 

SPORTS  ON  THE  STREETS 203 

How  Friendship  was  Broken      .......  204 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  at  Church    .  205 

Irreverence  Rebuked .........  206 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  at  Play        .  208 

PRACTICAL  JOKES 209 

A  Silly  Practical  Joke 209 

A  Stupid  Practical  Joke 210 

A  Thoughtless  Practical  Joke 211 

A  Serious  Practical  Joke 212 

The  Cruel  Practical  Joke 213 

A  Fatal  Practical  Joke 214 

Practical  Application  of  the  Principles  of  Politeness  at  School     .  215 


THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 


POLITENESS, 

POLITENESS  AND   HAPPINESS. 

DR.  DODDRIDGE  one  day  asked  his  little  girl  how  it  was 
that  everybody  loved  her.  "  I  do  not  know,"  said  she, 
"  unless  it  be  that  I  love  everybody." 

1.  How  may  we  make  ourselves  and  others  happy? 
By  practising  the  Golden  Rule. 

2.  What  is  the  Golden  Kule? 

"  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them." 

3.  What  is  meant  by  politeness  ? 
Politeness  is  another  name  for  good  manners. 

4.  Why  should  we  learn  politeness  ? 

We  should  learn  politeness  in  order  to  make  ourselves 
and  others  happy. 

5.  How  do  you  wish  others  to  treat  you  ? 

6.  Has  any  one  a  right  to  treat  you  ill  or  to  make  you 
unhappy  ? 

7.  Have  you  a  right  to  make  others  unhappy  ? 

8.  Name  something  that  another  might  do  to  make  you 
unhappy. 

9.  Name  something  that  you  can  do  to  make  some  one 
happy. 

11 


12  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

10.  In  what   ways    may  persons   receive   harm   from 
others  ? 

We  may  be  injured  in  our  persons,  our  good  name,  or 
in  our  property. 

11.  How  may  your  person  be  hurt? 

12.  State  some  hurt  that  might  be  done  to  your  good 
name. 

13.  State  some  hurt  that  might  be  done  to  your  property «. 

14.  What  would  be  the  effect  if  everybody  obeyed  the 
Golden  Rule? 

True  Politeness. 

A  gentleman  in  the  West,  while  addressing  a  Sunday- 
school,  noticed  a  little  girl,  shabbily  dressed  and  barefooted, 
shrinking  in  a  corner,  her  little  sunburnt  face  buried  in  her 
hands,  the  tears  trickling  between  her  small  brown  fingers, 
and  sobbing  as  if  her  heart  would  break.  Soon,  however, 
another  little  girl,  about  eleven  years  old,  got  up  and  went 
to  her,  and,  taking  her  by  the  hand,  led  her  toward  a  brook 
near  by,  seated  her  upon  a  log,  and,  kneeling  beside  her, 
took  off  her  ragged  sun-bonnet  and,  dipping  her  hand  in 
the  water,  bathed  her  hot  eyes  and  tear-stained  face,  and 
smoothed  her  tangled  hair,  talking  in  a  cheery  manner  all 
the  while.  The  little  one  brightened  up,  the  tears  all 
went,  and  smiles  came  creeping  over  her  face  instead.  The 
gentleman  stepping  forward,  said,  "  Is  that  your  sister,  my 
dear  ?" 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  the  little  girl ;  "  I  have  no  sister." 

"  Oh,  one  of  the  neighbor's  children,"  replied  the  man. 
•'  A  little  schoolmate  perhaps  ?" 

"  No,  sir ;  she  is  a  stranger  to  me.  I  do  not  know  where 
she  came  from ;  I  never  saw  her  before." 

"  Then  how  came  you  to  take  her  out  and  have  such  a 
care  for  her,  if  you  do  not  know  her  ?" 


POLITENESS.  13 


"  Because  she  is  a  stranger,  sir,  and  seemed  all  alone, 
with  nobody  to  be  kind  to  her." 

15.  Repeat  the  above  story  in  your  own  language. 

16.  How  does  the  Golden  Rule  teach  politeness? 

17.  Why  are  some  persons  impolite  ? 
Because  they  do  not  practise  the  Golden  Rule. 

18.  How  may  persons  be  impolite  to  us  ? 

By  thinking  ill  of  us,  by  speaking  ill  about  us,  and  by 
doing  unkind  things  to  us. 

19.  How  may  we  be  impolite  to  others? 

20.  How  may  we  make  others  respect  and  love  us  ? 
By  thinking  and  acting  kindly  towards  them. 

Help  Each  Other. 

An  old  Scotchman  was  taking  his  grist  to  the  mill  in 
sacks,  thrown  across  the  back  of  his  horse,  when  the  animal 
stumbled  and  the  sacks  fell  to  the  ground.  He  had  not 
strength  to  raise  them,  being  an  old  man,  but  he  saw  a 
horseman  coming  and  thought  he  would  ask  him  for  help. 
The  horseman  proved  to  be  the  nobleman  who  lived  in  the 
castle  near  by,  and  the  farmer  could  not  muster  courage  to 
ask  such  a  favor  of  him.  But  the  nobleman  was  a  gentle- 
man also,  and  not  waiting  to  be  asked,  he  quickly  dis- 
mounted, and  between  them  they  lifted  the  sacks  to  the 
horse's  back.  The  Scotchman  lifted  his  Scotch  bonnet,  for 
he  was  a  gentleman  too,  and  said,  "  My  lord,  how  shall  I 
ever  thank  you  for  your  kindness  ?" 

"  Very  easily,  John,"  said  the  nobleman.  "  Whenever 
you  see  another  man  in  the  same  plight  as  you  were  in  just 
now,  help  him,  and  that  will  be  thanking  me." 

21.  Repeat  the  above  story  in  your  own  language. 

B 


14  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

22.  When  should  we  study  to  know  and  to  practise  the 
rules  of  politeness  ? 

We  should  study  them  at  school  and  at  home,  and  should 
practise  them  everywhere. 

The  Worth  of  Politeness. 

Late  one  Saturday  afternoon  two  ladies  were  returning 
home,  when  one  of  them  lost  a  glove.  Remembering  that 
she  had  none  suitable  for  church  next  day,  she  proposed 

turning  into Street  to  buy  a  pair.  According  to  the 

summer  rule  the  stores  closed  early;  but  one  door  was 
open,  and  that  was  of  a  small  fancy  and  trimming  store, 
which  at  any  other  time  they  would  not  have  visited  to 
buy  gloves. 

On  entering,  a  modest  young  girl  met  them  as  she  was 
passing  out,  and  the  proprietor  stood  ready  to  lock  the  door 
behind  her.  When  asked,  as  a  favor,  to  see  their  gloves, 
the  young  girl,  though  weary  with  standing  all  day,  replied 
very  politely,  and  showed  as  much  patience  and  willingness 
to  please  as  if  it  were  in  the  early  part  of  the  day  and  she 
fresh  for  work,  or  as  if  the  store  had  been  her  own. 

The  gloves  were  bought,  and  also  some  other  little  arti- 
cles that  lay  in  sight  on  the  counter,  and  on  receiving  the 
money  the  young  girl  said  "  Thank  you,"  as  if  the  favor 
had  been  one  done  herself  instead  of  her  customers. 

When  the  ladies  left  the  store,  one  of  them  said  to  the 
other,  "  That  is  what  I  call  true  politeness ;  now  let's  go 
there  again  when  we  are  out  shopping." 

Neither  had  ever  been  in  that  little  store  before,  but  after 
that  they  went  there  whenever  they  wanted  such  goods. 
They  were  always  met  by  the  same  polite  and  patient  desire 
to  please.  They  mentioned  the  place  to  their  friends,  and 
they  know  that  they  have  added  largely  to  the  custom  of 
that  store. 


POLITENESS.  15 


23.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  polite  young  shopkeeper  in 
your  own  language. 

A  Lesson  to  Learners. 

When  old  Zachariah  Fox,  the  great  merchant  of  Liver- 
pool, was  asked  by  what  means  he  managed  to  secure  so 
large  a  fortune  as  he  possessed,  his  reply  was,  "  Friend,  by 
one  article  alone,  in  which  thou  mayest  deal  too  if  thou 
pleasest,  it  is  civility." 

24.  What  is  meant  by  civility  ? 

It  is  only  another  word  for  politeness. 

25.  Is  there  any  reason  why  we  should  be  polite  beside 
the  desire  to  get  rich  ? 

The  Boy  and  his  Boat. 

A  young  lad  was  rowing  a  gentleman  across  the  Merri- 
mac  River.  Some  boatmen  going  down  the  river  with 
lumber  had  drawn  up  their  boat  and  anchored  it  at  the 
place  where  the  boy  wished  to  land.  "There!"  he  ex- 
claimed, "  those  boatmen  have  left  their  boat  right  in  my 
way." 

"What  did  they  do  that  for?"  the  gentleman  inquired. 

"  On  purpose  to  plague  me ;  but  I  will  cut  it  loose  and 
let  it  go  down  the  river.  I'll  have  them  know  I  can  be  as 
ugly  as  they  can." 

"But,  my  lad,"  said  the  gentleman,  "you  should  not 
plague  them  because  they  plague  you.  Because  they  arc- 
ugly  to  you  is  no  reason  you  should  be  to  them.  Besides, 
how  do  you  know  they  did  it  just  to  worry  you  ?" 

"  But  they  had  no  business  to  leave  it  there ;  it  is  against 
the  rules,"  said  he. 

"  But,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  you  have  no  right  to  send 
their  boat  adrift.  Would  it  not  be  better  to  ask  them  to 
remove  it?" 


16  THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 

"  They  will  not  do  it  if  I  do  ask  them/'  he  replied. 

"  Well,  try  it  for  once.  Just  run  your  boat  a  little  above 
or  below  theirs  and  see  if  they  will  not  favor  you  when 
they  see  you  are  disposed  to  be  polite  with  them." 

The  boy  did  as  he  was  told ;  and  when  the  men  in  the 
boat  saw  the  little  fellow  quietly  and  pleasantly  pulling  at 
his  oars  to  run  his  boat  above,  they  took  hold  and  helped 
him  and  gave  him  all  the  chance  he  wished.  By  being 
civil  arid  polite  himself  the  boy  was  unexpectedly  treated 
with  kindness  and  politeness. 

26.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  Young  Boatman. 

27.  Which  acted  with  the  more  wisdom,  the  boy  or  the 
passenger  in  the  boat  ?     Why  ? 

28.  Does  politeness  ever  require  us  to  do  wrong  ? 

29.  May  we  say  or  do  what  is  wrong  to  please  anybody  ? 
Politeness  only  requires  that  we  shall  do  right,  as  we 

would  wish  others  to  do  right  to  us. 


CONSCIENCE, 

30.  What  is  meant  by  conscience  ? 

It  is  that  feeling  of  the  mind  which  makes  us  happy 
when  we  do  what  we  think  is  right,  and  unhappy  when  we 
do  what  we  think  is  wrong. 

31.  Who  are  the  happiest  people  ? 

The  happiest  people  are  those  who  always  try  to  do  what 
they  think  is  right. 

32.  Are  all  persons  alike  unhappy  when  they  do  wrong  ? 
No.     All  persons  are  not  trained  to  know  what  is  right 

and  what  is  wrong. 


CONSCIENCE.  17 


A  Troubled  Conscience. 

A  lady  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age,  elegantly  dressed, 
entered  the  shop  of  a  gentleman  in  London  in  a  state  of 
great  excitement,  and  asked  if  the  owner  of  the  shop  were 
yet  alive.  On  being  told  that  he  was  living,  she  earnestly 
desired  to  see  him.  Being  busy  in  watching  the  making 
of  some  candy,  he  asked  to  be  excused,  and  called  his 
daughter  to  wait  upon  her.  The  daughter  went  at  once 
with  her  into  the  parlor.  After  sitting  a  short  time  the 
lady  burst  into  tears.  When  she  was  able  to  speak  she 
stated  that  more  than  twenty  years  before,  she  was  a  pupil 
at  a  boarding-school  near  by,  which  school  this  gentleman 
had  for  nearly  forty  years  supplied  with  pastry  from  his 
bakery,  and  while  there  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
taking  small  articles  from  his  tray,  unknown  to  the  persons 
who  brought  it.  She  had  now  been  married  some  years 
and  was  the  mother  of  six  children,  but  still  the  memory 
of  her  thefts  had  so  troubled  her  conscience  that  she  was 
never  happy.  Her  husband,  observing  her  unhappiness, 
had  after  many  trials  got  the  secret  of  her  trouble.  He 
advised  her  to  call  on  the  baker  and  relieve  her  conscience 
by  paying  for  the  things  she  had  taken,  and  also  by 
making  an  apology  for  the  wrong  she  had  done. 

The  baker  on  being  told  the  object  of  her  visit  begged 
her  not  to  make  herself  unhappy  any  longer,  as  she  was 
not  the  only  one  who  had  acted  in  that  manner.  After 
begging  his  pardon,  which  he  most  readily  granted,  she 
insisted  on  paying  him  some  money  which  she  thought  was 
about  the  value  of  the  things  she  had  taken. 

After  remaining  a  short  time  she  left,  feeling  that  a 
great  load  had  been  taken  off  her  conscience,  and  that 
hereafter  she  could  be  a  happier  woman. 
B*  2 


18  vv//';  r/tiMKR  OF  POLITENESS, 

33.  Tell  the  story  of  the  Troubled  ( Conscience. 

34.  Wlisil.   should    we   <!<>  when    OODBOienoe    tells    us  wo 
have  done  wrong? 

35.  Why   <li<l   1.1 1 is  woman  wish  to  ask  pardon  of  the 
baker? 

o<>.    Why  eould  she  he  happier  after  she  had  conf» 
her  wrong? 

TJie  Window- Br  ealicr1 8  Conscience. 

In  the  village  of  W.,  as  a  company  of  boys  were  about 
to  go  over  l.o  llie  academy,  some  one  proposed  to  lake  the 
mar  way  through  an  alley,  and  thus  Have  sonic  di-tanee  in 
Llie  walk.  It  is  not  safe  for  boys  to  leave  the  open  streets 
and  to  go  through  dirty  alleys,  for  there  are  almost  always 
some  temptations  in  sneli  ont-of-t lie-way  plaees  as  will  lead 
them  into  trouble.  On  their  way  they  had  to  pass  a  large 
warehouse  that  was  used  for  storing  wool.  The  side,  of 
the  building  near  the  alley  contained  several  large  windows. 
As  the  boys  were  sauntering  along,  one  of  them,  who  was 
generally  their  leader  in  mischief,  suggested  that  it  would 
be  line  fun  to  break  the  glass  out  of  the  windows.  Un- 
fortunately for  the  owner  of  the  house,  there  was  not  a  boy 
in  the  crowd  who  had  the  courage  to  refuse  to  join  in  the 
mischief.  There  was  no  special  reason  why  they  should 
damage  the  man's  property,  as  he  was  a  kind,  good  man, 
who  h.id  done  them  no  harm,  but  at  it  they  went,  and  in  a 
very  short  time  scarcely  a  whole  pane  was  left.  After  this 
exploit,  which  they  railed  fun,  they  went  on  to  school, 
seemingly  highly  please*  1  with  their  morning's  work.  It 
was  Snpp088d  to  be  a  good  joke  to  destroy  the  property 
of  a  kind,  good  man  who  had  given  them  no  can 
oflenee. 

One  of  the  boys,  who  had    joined    the   rest    in    breaking 
the  glass,  was  ill  at  ease  when    he   came   to   think    of  what 


CONSCIENCE.  19 


he  had  done.  Ho  reasoned  in  (his  way:  "  Would  I  have 
broken  the  glass  if  it  li:id  been  my  father's  wan-lion;  <•  ? 
Would  I  have  consented  to  sec  his  property  destroyed  ? 
Was  it  right  to  destroy  property  for  fun?  Was  il  doing 
as  I  would  be  done  l>y  ?  Was  it  brave  or  manly  to  sneak 
into  tin  alley,  in  an  out-of-the-way  plaee,  to  do  whal  I 
would  not  have  dared  lo  do  if  the  owner  had  been  present? 
To  answer  these  (jueslions  in  his  own  mind  made  him  very 
unhappy.  When  lie  saw  the  owner  of  the  warehouse  he 
was  uneasy  and  ashamed.  If  he  were,  sen!  an  errand  and 
had  to  pass  (he  gent (email's  Store,  llO  WOllld  always  CrOSS 
the  street  and  pass  by  on  the  other  side.  This  slate  of 
feeling  lasted  several  months,  HO  he  determined  to  get  rid 
of  it. 

It,  was  nearly  ChristrnaH.  lie  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
saving  his  pennies  and  small  silver  coins  to  make  some 
presents  at  the  holidays.  He  had  saved  a  niee  little  sum 
of  money,  when  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  best,  use  he 
could  make  of  it,  would  be  to  pay  for  the  damage  done  at, 
the  warehouse  and  to  get  the  owner  to  forgive  him  for  the 
mischief.  Accordingly,  on  New  Year's  morning  he  opened 
the  box,  put  the  money  into  a  little  red  stocking,  and,  taking 
it  with  him,  marched  down  to  the  gentleman's  store.  Walk- 
ing in  with  a  manly  air  and  speaking  to  the  owner,  he  said, 
"Mr.-  — ,  some  time  ago,  in  company  with  some  oilier 
boys,  I  broke  the  glass  in  the  windows  of  your  warehouse. 
I  have  been  ashamed  and  unhappy  about  it,  and  as  this  is 
New  Year's  day,  I  want  to  begin  the  year  right  by  paying 
for  the  broken  glass." 

"  But,"  said  the.  merchant,  "you  did  not  break  all  the 
glass?" 

"No,  sir,"  said  tho  boy;  "  but  I  shall  be  glad  to  pay  for 
it  all." 

The  merchant  refused    to  take,   the   money,  and,   after  a 


20  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

few  words  of  kind  advice,  he  presented  the  stocking  with 
its  contents  to  the  boy  as  a  New  Year's  gift. 

It  required  a  good  deal  of  courage  and  real  manhood  to 
act  as  he  did,  but  the  happiness  derived  from  making  an 
apology  and  offering  payment  for  the  damage  was  reward 
enough.  The  conscience,  troubled  so  long,  was  now  at  ease, 
and  its  owner  was  a  happy  boy. 

37.  Tell  the  story  of  the  Window-Breaker. 

38.  What  did  the  boy  do  that  was  cowardly  ? 

39.  What  did  he  do  that  was  brave? 

40.  What  is  conscience  ?     See  question  No.  30. 

41.  What  led  the  boy  to  offer  to  pay  for  the  glass? 

42.  Was  it  right  for  him  to  offer  to  pay  for  the  glass  ? 
Why? 

43.  Do  persons  always  do  what  they  know  to  be  right  ? 

44.  How  should  we  act  with  reference  to  conscience  ? 
We  should  always  obey  the  warnings  of  conscience,  and 

do  what  we  think  is  right. 


HABITS, 

45.  What  are  meant  by  habits  ? 

Habits  are  actions  of  the  mind  or  body  that  have  been 
learned  by  practice. 

46.  What  kinds  of  habits  are  there  ? 
There  are  good  habits  and  bad  habits. 

47.  What  are  good  habits? 

Good  habits  are  such  practices  as  tend  to  make  ourselves 
and  others  happy. 

48.  What  are  bad  habits  ? 


HABITS.  21 


The  Weaver  Boy's  Habit  of  Study. 

The  late  Dr.  Livingstone  was  a  cotton  weaver,  who 
worked  from  six  in  the  morning  till  eight  at  night.  He 
read  many  of  the  classic  authors  before  he  was  sixteen  years 
of  age.  His  mother  often  had  to  take  his  book  away  from 
him  to  secure  him  proper  sleep.  When  at  his  work  he 
fixed  his  book  on  his  spinning-jenny  so  that  he  could  catch 
sentences  as  he  passed  to  and  fro,  and  the  power  of  abstract- 
ing the  mind  from  surrounding  noises  was  thus  formed. 
Thereby  he  was  enabled  during  his  many  years  of  wander- 
ing in  Africa  to  read  and  write  undisturbed  by  the  dancing 
and  songs  of  his  savage  allies. 

49.  Tell  the  incident  of  Dr.  Livingstone. 

50.  Name  a  good  habit  of  the  mind. 

51.  Name  a  bad  habit  of  the  mind. 

52.  Name  a  good  habit  of  the  body. 

53.  Name  a  bad  habit  of  the  body. 

54.  Name  some  good  habit  practised  at  school. 

55.  Name  some  bad  habit  practised  at  school. 

56.  Name  some  bad  habit  in  the  use  of  language. 

57.  How  may  we  learn  good  habits? 
By  constantly  trying  to  do  right. 

58.  What  is  meant  by  character  ? 

By  character  is  meant  the  sum  of  a  person's  habits. 

Good  Habits  make  Good  Character. 

Amos  Lawrence,  the  senior  member  of  the  long-known 
house  of  A.  Lawrence  &  Co.,  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful business  men  of  Boston.  He  won  success  by  his 
habits  of  industry  and  his  business  talent.  His  life  is 
worth  reading  by  every  young  person,  as  a  help  in  the  for- 
mation of  his  character.  When  a  clerk  in  a  store  it  was 


22  THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 

the  habit  of  all  the  other  clerks  to  mix  a  little  liquor  for 
drink  and  to  enjoy  a  good  cigar.  Young  Amos,  though 
often  tempted  to  imitate  their  example,  resisted  resolutely. 
He  said,  "During  the  rest  of  my  apprenticeship,  five 
years,  I  never  drank  a  spoonful,  though  I  mixed  gallons 
daily  for  my  old  master  and  his  customers.  I  decided  never 
to  be  a  slave  to  tobacco  in  any  form,  though  I  loved  the 
odor  of  it  then,  and  even  now  have  in  my  drawer  a 
superior  Havana  cigar,  given  me  not  long  since  by  a 
friend,  but  only  to  smell  of.  I  never  in  my  life  smoked  a 
cigar,  never  chewed  but  one  quid,  and  that  was  before  I 
was  fifteen.  I  never  took  an  ounce  of  snuff,  though  the 
scented  rappee  of  forty  years  ago  had  great  charms  for  me. 
Now,  I  say,  to  this  simple  fact  of  starting  just  right  am  I 
indebted,  with  God's  blessing,  on  my  labors  for  my  present 
position." 

59.  State  what  helped  to  form  Mr.  Lawrence's  character. 

60.  How  may  a  bad  character  be  formed  ? 

Benedict  Arnold's  Boyhood. 

Benedict  Arnold  was  the  only  general  in  the  American 
Revolution  who  disgraced  his  country.  He  had  superior 
military  talent,  great  energy,  and  remarkable  courage. 
The  capture  of  Burgoyne's  army  was  due  more  to  Arnold 
than  to  Gates.  Had  his  character  been  equal  to  his  talents 
he  would  have  won  a  place  beside  Washington  and  Greene, 
inferior  only  to  them  in  ability  and  achievements. 

But  he  began  life  badly,  and  it  is  not  surprising  that  he 
ended  it  in  disgrace.  When  a  boy  he  was  detested  for 
selfishness  and  cruelty.  He  took  delight  in  torturing 
insects  and  birds,  that  he  might  watch  their  sufferings.  He 
scattered  pieces  of  glass  and  sharp  tacks  on  the  floor  of  the 
shop  he  tended,  that  the  barefooted  boys  who  visited  it 


HABITS.  23 


might  have  sore  and  bleeding  feet.  The  selfish  cruelty  of 
boyhood  grew  stronger  in  manhood.  It  went  with  him 
into  the  army.  He  was  hated  by  the  soldiers  and  dis- 
trusted by  the  officers  in  spite  of  his  bravery,  and  at  last 
he  became  a  traitor  to  his  country. 

61.  Give  the  character  of  Benedict  Arnold  as  a  boy. 

62.  Why  might  we  expect  such  a  boy  to  become  a  bad 
man? 

63.  Why  are  habits  so  hard  to  change  ? 

When  we  act  from  force  of  habit  we  often  act  without 
thinking.  Sometimes  the  act  is  done  before  we  think. 

64.  Give  an  example  of  a  person's  acting  in  school  from 
the  effect  of  habit. 

65.  May  we  excuse  ourselves  for  a  bad  habit  because 
it  is  a  habit  ? 

No.  A  bad  action  cannot  be  excused  because  it  has 
been  often  repeated.  We  should  change  the  habit. 

Farragufs  Change  of  Habit. 

Admiral  Farragut  used  to  tell  the  following  in  relation 
to  his  early  determination  to  be  a  sailor,  and  the  reasons 
for  it : 

"  Would  you  like  to  know  how  I  was  enabled  to  serve 
my  country  ?  It  was  all  owing  to  a  resolution  I  formed 
when  I  was  ten  years  of  age.  My  father  was  sent  down 
to  New  Orleans  with  the  little  navy  we  then  had  to  look 
after  the  treason  of  Aaron  Burr.  I  accompanied  him  as 
cabin-boy.  I  had  some  qualities  that  I  thought  made  a 
man  of  me.  I  could  swear  like  an  old  sailor.  I  could 
drink  as  stiff  a  glass  of  grog  as  if  I  had  sailed  round  Cape 
Horn,  and  could  smoke  like  a  locomotive.  I  was  great  at 
cards,  and  fond  of  gambling  in  every  shape.  At  the  close 


24  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

of  the  dinner  one  day  my  father  turned  everybody  out  of 
the  cabin,  locked  the  door,  and  said  to  me, — 

" '  David,  what  do  you  mean  to  be  ?' 

" ( I  mean  to  follow  the  sea/ 

" '  Follow  the  sea !  Yes,  be  a  poor,  miserable,  drunken 
sailor  before  the  mast,  kicked  and  cuffed  about  the  world, 
and  die  in  some  fever  hospital  in  a  foreign  land.' 

" '  No/  I  said ;  '  I'll  tread  the  quarter-deck  and  com- 
mand as  you  do.' 

" ( No,  David ;  no  boy  ever  trod  the  quarter-deck  with 
such  principles  as  you  have  and  such  habits  as  you  ex- 
hibit. You'll  have  to  change  your  whole  course  of  life  if 
you  ever  become  a  man.' 

"  My  father  left  me  and  went  on  deck.  I  was  stunned 
by  the  rebuke  and  overwhelmed  with  shame. 

"A  poor,  miserable,  drunken  sailor  before  the  mast,  kicked 
and  cuffed  about  the  world,  and  to  die  in  some  fever  hos- 
pital. That's  my  fate,  is  it  ?  I'll  change  my  life,  and  change 
it  at  once.  I  will  never  utter  another  oath,  I  will  never 
drink  another  drop  of  intoxicating  liquors,  I  will  never 
gamble ;  and,  as  God  is  my  witness,  I  have  kept  tliose  three 
vows  to  this  hour." 

66.  Tell  the  story  of  Farragut's  reformation. 

67.  How  may  bad  habits  be  changed  ? 

By  honestly,  earnestly  trying  to  change  them. 

A  Battle  with  Habits  of  Appetite. 

A  gentleman  formerly  a  tremendous  whiskey-drinker, 
tobacco-chewer  and  smoker,  but  for  several  years  past  has 
been  a  reformed  man,  wrote  to  a  friend  in  the  city  of  New 
York  as  follows  :  "  I  have  seen  the  time  that  my  desire  for 
tobacco  was  vastly  stronger  than  it  ever  was  for  food. 
Once  I  was  on  a  lee  shore,  the  wind  blew,  the  sea  was  tre- 


HABITS.  25 


mendous.  The  last  time  I  saw  the  rocky  shore  it  was  three 
miles  to  the  leeward.  It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  I  felt  cer- 
tain we  should  be  on  the  rocks  before  morning  if  the  wind 
continued.  I  felt  in  my  pockets  for  some  tobacco,  but  could 
find  none.  I  examined  every  part  of  the  vessel  where  I 
thought  it  possible  to  find  any ;  I  inquired  of  the  crew,  but 
there  was  none  on  board.  At  that  time  I  would  have  given 
fifty  dollars  for  one  quid.  The  gale  ceased,  we  soon  found 
a  harbor,  and  the  first  thing  I  inquired  for  was  tobacco.  I 
chewed  twenty-one  years  and  smoked  about  eighteen.  For 
a  long  time  before  I  quit  the  use  of  tobacco  I  believed  it 
was  injurious  to  me,  but  I  felt  it  was  almost  impossible  to 
leave  off.  Eventually  I  was  awakened  and  felt  that  such 
practices  were  sinful.  I  then  thought  I  would  try  to  leave 
them  off.  When  I  quit  smoking  I  felt  comparatively  that 
I  had  lost  all  my  friends.  I  could  not  eat  or  sleep  as  usual, 
I  felt  restless,  and  for  some  weeks  thought  it  uncertain 
whether  I  should  be  able  to  conquer  a  habit  which  was  so 
strong.  But  at  last  it  was  overcome.  I  then  thought  I 
would  quit  chewing,  then  came  the  struggle.  To  quit  smok- 
ing was  but  a  trifle  in  comparison.  After  I  had  determined 
to  try  to  quit  chewing,  I  always  kept  a  piece  of  tobacco  in 
my  pocket;  I  was  doubtful  whether  I  should  be  able  to 
leave  off.  Many  times  before  I  was  aware  of  it  I  found 
I  had  had  a  piece  in  my  mouth  a  long  time.  As  soon 
as  I  perceived  it  I  would  take  it  out,  but  often  before  it 
was  discharged  I  would  give  it  one  solid  grind.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  world,  to  me,  so  exquisitely  sweet  as  tobacco. 
After  several  months  the  habit  was  overcome,,  but  it  was 
almost  like  plucking  out  my  right  eye.  When  I  had  en- 
tirely ceased  from  using  it  I  had  a  better  appetite,  my 
sleep  was  sweeter  and  more  refreshing,  my  mind  more  com- 
posed, my  nerves  were  more  steady,  I  grew  more  fleshy, 
and  now  I  enjoy  perfect  health  and  can  endure  double  the 


26  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

fatigue  that  I  could  for  a  long  time  before  I  quit  the  use 
of  tobacco." 

68.  What  is  meant  by  Appetite? 

It  means  a  strong  desire  for  food  or  drink. 

69.  How  often  and  for  how  long  must  we  try  to  change 
bad  habits  ? 

The  Uncontrolled  Appetite. 

The  great  temperance  lecturer,  Gough,  told  of  a  beautiful 
girl  in  England,  far  gone  with  consumption,  yet  patiently 
and  lovingly  toiling  to  support  a  brother  who  was  addicted 
to  drinking  habits.  She  used  to  get  him  a  place  to  work, 
but  he  would  soon  forfeit  it  by  his  evil  ways,  and  so  in  her 
weakness  and  pain  she  worked  on,  giving  the  renegade 
brother  most  of  her  earnings.  Little  by  little  she  saved  a 
small  sum  to  pay  the  expense  of  her  last  sickness  and  burial, 
which  she  expected  would  soon  be  upon  her.  The  misera- 
ble brother  found  where  she  secreted  her  little  treasure, 
broke  open  the  desk  and  robbed  it,  and  spent  the  money 
to  gratify  his  terrible  appetite  for  strong  drink.  To  such 
depths  of  meanness  did  he  descend  on  account  of  his  dread- 
ful habits  that  even  his  conscience  no  longer  troubled  him. 
Neither  love  nor  shame  could  prevent  the  miserable  man 
from  robbing  his  nearest  and  dearest  friend. 

70.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  uncontrolled  appetite   for 
drink. 

You  need  not  answer  the  next  two  questions  aloud. 

71.  Have  you  any  habits  at  home  or  at  school  that  you 
ought  to  break  off? 

72.  Are  your  habits  of  speech  and  behavior  such  as  give 
pleasure  to  all  your  friends  ? 

73.  If  you  have  any  bad  habit,  what  should  you  do  ? 


HABITS.  27 


"lOm't." 

The  following  sad  confession  of  the  despotism  of  an  evil 
appetite  and  bad  habit  is  narrated  by  a  gentleman  in  New 
York,  who  heard  the  conversation. 

Being  in  a  coffee-saloon,  a  stranger  stepped  in  one  cold 
morning  and  called  for  a  cup  of  coffee.  The  saloon  had  a 
liquor-bar  attached,  and  the  waiter,  handing  the  coffee  to 
the  man,  said,  "Will  you  have  anything  else?" 

"  Nothing  else,"  was  the  reply; "  I  drink  nothing  stronger 
than  coffee." 

While  he  was  drinking  the  coffee,  a  well-dressed  man 
whom  he  had  observed  walking  the  floor  stepped  up  to 
him  and  said,  with  an  earnest  manner, — 

"  Sir,  I  would  give  all  I  am  worth  to  be  able  to  do  what 
you  are  doing." 

"  How  so  ?     What  am  I  doing  that  you  can't  do  ?" 

"  Why,  sir,"  spoke  the  man,  earnestly,  "  you  can  drink 
your  coffee  with  a  relish  and  refuse  the  liquor  at  that  bar, 
that's  what  I  can't  do ;  no,  sir,  I can't  do  that" 

74.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  man  who  said  "  I  can't  do 
that." 

75.  Why  is  it  that  people  rarely  reform  their  bad  habits  ? 
It  is  because  they  give  up  the  struggle  and  say  "  I  can't." 

76.  Is  it  manly  or  brave  to  say  "  I  can't,"  and  quit 
trying? 

«rtt  Try,  Sir." 

During  the  war  of  1812,  between  the  British  and 
Americans,  an  American  army  was  sent  into  Canada. 
About  sunset  on  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  June,  1814, 
General  Scott,  with  a  party  of  twelve  hundred  men,  came 


28  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

up  with  the  British  army,  which  was  advantageously  posted 
at  the  head  of  Lundy's  Lane,  near  Niagara  Falls.  Al- 
though greatly  outnumbered,  the  American  general  deter- 
mined to  hold  his  ground  until  the  main  body  of  the  army 
under  General  Brown  should  come  to  his  assistance.  He 
opened  the  battle,  but  his  small  force  was  compelled  to 
sustain  the  full  fire  of  the  British  infantry  and  of  a  battery 
of  seven  pieces,  consisting  of  24-pounders  and  howitzers, 
which  crowned  the  heights,  and  at  every  discharge  made 
deep  chasms  in  the  American  ranks.  The  evening  was 
now  far  advanced,  and  notwithstanding  the  moon  was 
shining  in  an  unclouded  sky,  an  almost  complete  darkness 
covered  the  field,  broken  only  by  the  flashes  from  the  Brit- 
ish guns  and  from  the  irregular  discharges  of  musketry 
on  either  side.  A  pause  presently  ensued  as  each  army 
prepared  for  a  decisive  blow,  and  the  American  general 
gaining  a  partial  view  of  the  heights  occupied  by  the  Brit- 
ish guns  as  the  clouds  of  smoke  rolled  away  from  the  field, 
determined,  as  the  only  chance  of  winning  the  battle,  to 
make  an  attempt  to  capture  the  battery.  Turning  to  Colonel 
James  Miller,  who  commanded  the  Twenty-first  Regiment, 
he  asked  him  if  he  could  take  the  battery.  "  I'll  try,  sir," 
was  his  prompt  reply,  and  immediately  placing  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  attacking  party,  he  commenced  the  ascent 
of  the  hill.  A  sheet  of  flame  burst  from  the  battery, 
carrying  death  and  desolation  to  the  devoted  ranks.  Clos- 
ing up,  they  held  their  course  courageously  until  within 
musket-shot  of  the  battery,  when  pouring  in  a  volley  and 
charging  with  a  shout,  they  bayoneted  the  artillerymen  at 
their  guns,  and,  after  a  fierce  struggle,  drove  the  British  in 
confusion  down  the  hill. 

For  his  services  on  this  occasion  he  was  brevetted  as  a 
brigadier-general,  and  he  received  from.  Congress  a  vote  of 
thanks  and  a  gold  medal. 


SOCIETY.  29 


77.  Tell  the  story  of  Colonel  Miller  at  Lundy's  Lane. 

78.  Is  it  better  to  say  "  I  can't"  or  "  I'll  try"  ? 

79.  Which  is  the   grander  thing,  to  overcome  a  bad 
habit  or  to  take  a  battery  ? 

The  moral  law  says,  "  He  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better 
than  the  mighty ;  and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit,  than  he  that 
taketh  a  city." 


SOCIETY. 

"  The  New  Commandment." 

Archbishop  Usher  used  to  visit  the  clergy  under  his 
charge  frequently  and  unexpectedly,  to  see  how  they  were 
employed  and  how  their  churches  prospered.  On  one 
occasion  he  went  in  disguise  as  a  beggar  to  a  clergyman's 
house.  The  clergyman  was  not  at  home,  but  his  prudent 
wife  scolded  the  unknown  old  man,  though  she  gave  him 
some  food.  "  For  shame,  old  man,  that  you  should  be  a 
beggar.  This  is  not  the  fruit  of  an  honest,  industrious, 
godly  life.  Tell  me  how  many  commandments  are  there?" 
The  old  man  appeared  confused,  and  stammered  out 
"  eleven."  "  I  thought  so,"  said  she.  "  Go  your  way,,  old 
man,  and  take  this  book  with  you,  and  when  next  you  are 
asked  how  many  commandments  there  are,  say  ten." 

The  archbishop  left,  and  the  next  day  he  had  it  an- 
nounced that  he  should  preach  in  the  parish  church.  The 
morning  came,  and  the  good  woman  little  thought  that  the 
archbishop  was  the  beggar  that  she  had  lectured  the  day 
before  until  he  gave  as  his  text,  "A  new  commandment  I 
give  unto  you,  that  ye  love  one  another."  "  It  would  seern 
by  the  text,"  he  said,  "  that  there  are  eleven  command- 
ments." The  u  old  man"  was  at  once  discovered  by  the 

pastor's  wife  to  be  the  beggar  to  whom  she  had  given  re* 
c* 


SO  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

lief.     She  afterwards  acknowledged  with  shame  to  herself 
that  there  was  another  and  a  "  new  commandment." 

80.  Repeat  the  story  of  Archbishop  Usher. 

81.  What  is  the  "eleventh  commandment"? 

82.  Why  do  people  live  together  in  society? 
First,  because  they  love  each  other's  company. 
Second,  because  they  need  each  other's  help. 

83.  In  what  ways  do  we  need  each  other's  help  ? 

The  strong  should  take  care  of  the  weak,  the  well  should 
take  care  of  the  sick.  Some  furnish  food,  some  furnish 
clothing,  some  houses,  etc. 

84.  Name  some  of  the  classes  upon  which  we  depend 
for  food,  for  clothing,  for  medicine. 

85.  Name  somebody  that  depends  in  some  way  upon 
you. 

86.  Why  are  laws  needed  in  society? 

Laws  are  needed  to  protect  the  weak  and  to  punisk 
those  who  do  wrong. 

87.  Why  should  not  every  one  do  as  he  pleases  ? 

THE   MORAL    LAW. 

88.  What  is  meant  by  a  moral  law  ? 

A  moral  law  is  a  rule  which  commands  what  is  right 
and  forbids  what  is  wrong. 

89.  What  are  the  two  great  moral  laws  ? 

"  Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart, 
and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with  all  thy  mind.  This  is  the 
first  and  great  commandment,  and  the  second  is  like  unto 
it,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 

90.  What  is  meant  by  loving  our  neighbor  as  ourself  ? 
It  means  that  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should 

do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them." 

91.  What  is  this  rule  called  ? 


SOCIETY.  31 


It  is  called  the  "  Golden  Rule." 

92.  Who  is  our  neighbor  ? 

Every  human  being  is  our  neighbor,  of  every  race  and 
of  every  country. 

93.  How  do  you  wish  everybody  to  treat  you  ?     Why  ? 

94.  If  you  were    to  go    to   Ireland,  to  China,  or  to 
Africa,  how  would  you  wish  to  be  treated  ? 

95.  If  a  Chinese  boy,  an  Indian,  or  an  African  should 
enter  your  school,  how  would  he  wish  to  be  treated  ? 

96.  How  ought  he  to  be  treated  ?     Why  ? 

97.  Does  the  color  of  the  skin,  or  hair,  or  eyes  make 
one  person  better  or  more  deserving  than  another  ? 

98.  What  is  the  effect  of  love  toward  our  neighbor? 
The   moral  law   says,    "  Love   worketh   no   ill   to   his 

neighbor." 

99.  What  would  be  the  result  if  every  one  obeyed  that 
law? 

An  Englishman  in  Italy. 

An  Englishman  travelling  over  Europe,  when  travellers 
were  not  so  common  as  they  are  at  present,  on  arriving  at 
the  city  of  Turin  strolled  out  to  see  the  city.  He  hap- 
pened to  meet  a  regiment  of  soldiers  returning  from  parade, 
and,  taking  a  position,  waited  to  see  it  pass.  A  young  cap- 
tain, desirous  of  making  a  display  before  the  stranger, 
missed  his  footing  in  crossing  one  of  the  gutters  in  the 
street,  and  in  trying  to  save  himself  from  falling  lost  his 
hat.  The  people  standing  by  laughed  and  looked  at  the 
Englishman,  expecting  him  to  laugh  also.  On  the  con- 
trary, he  promptly  stepped  forward  to  where  the  hat  lay, 
and,  taking  it  up,  presented  it  with  an  air  of  kindness  to  its 
confused  owner.  The  officer  took  it  with  a  blush  of  sur- 
prise and  pleasure,  and  hurried  to  rejoin  his  company. 
There  was  a  murmur  of  applause,  and  the  stranger  passed 


32  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

on.     Not  a  word  was  spoken,  but  every  one  who  witnessed 
the  scene  was  pleased  with  the  politeness  of  the  stranger. 

After  the  regiment  was  dismissed  the  captain  told  his 
story  to  his  colonel ;  the  colonel  immediately  mentioned 
it  to  the  general  in  command,  and  when  the  Englishman 
returned  to  his  hotel,  he  found  an  officer  waiting  to  request 
his  company  to  dinner  at  the  headquarters.  In  the  evening 
he  was  taken  to  the  palace  of  the  king,  and  was  received 
with  particular  attention.  Of  course,  during  his  stay  in 
Turin  he  was  invited  everywhere,  and  on  his  departure 
was  given  letters  of  introduction  to  prominent  citizens  of 
the  different  cities  of  Italy.  Thus  a  private  gentleman  of 
moderate  means  was  enabled  to  travel  under  the  most  favor- 
able circumstances,  to  visit  the  most  celebrated  cities  and 
to  meet  the  best  society,  because  he  had  taken  the  opportu- 
nity of  doing  a  kindness  to  a  stranger.  Acts  of  kindness 
rarely  fail  to  make  warm  friends. 

100.  Give  the  story  of  the  Englishman's  politeness. 

101.  Does  the  Golden  Rule  mean  that  we  shall  treat  all 
persons  alike? 

No.  It  means  that  we  should  treat  every  person  as  we 
would  like  to  be  treated  if  we  were  in  his  place  and  he  in 
ours. 


SOCIAL  GRADES, 

102.  What  classes  of  persons  in  society  require  different 
treatment  from  us? 

Our  Superiors,  our  Equals,  and  our  Inferiors. 

103.  Who  are  the  Superiors  of  boys  and  girls? 

Their  parents,  their  teachers,  and  those  who  are  older  and 
wiser  than  they. 


SOCIAL   GRADES.  33 


104.  Who  are  the  Equals  of  boys  and  girls? 

Their  class-mates,  school-mates,  brothers  and  sisters,  and 
others  of  about  the  same  age. 

105.  Who  are  the  Inferiors  of  boys  and  girls? 

Those  who  are  younger  and  weaker,  or  those  who  are 
more  ignorant. 

HONOR  TO  PAEENTS. 

Washington's  Regard  for  his  Mother. 

General  Washington,  when  quite  young,  was  about  to  go 
to  sea  as  a  midshipman.  Everything  was  arranged,  the  ves^ 
sel  lay  opposite  his  father's  house,  the  little  boat  had  come 
on  shore  to  take  him  off,  and  his  whole  heart  was  bent  on 
going.  After  his  trunk  had  been  carried  down  to  the  boat 
he  went  to  bid  his  mother  farewell,  and  saw  the  tears  burst- 
ing from  her  eyes.  He  said  nothing  to  her,  but  seeing  she 
would  be  distressed  if  he  went,  and  perhaps  would  never 
be  happy  again,  he  turned  to  the  servant  and  said,  "  Go  tell 
them  to  take  my  trunk  back ;  I  will  not  go  away  to  break 
my  mother's  heart."  His  mother  was  struck  with  his  de- 
cision, and  said  to  him,  "  George,  God  has  promised  to  bless 
the  children  that  honor  their  parents,  and  I  believe  he  will 
bless  you." 

106.  Relate  the  story  of  Washington's  regard  for  his 
mother. 

107.  How  should  children  treat  their  parents? 

The  moral  law  says,  "  Honor  thy  father  and  mother." 

108.  Why  should  children  obey  their  parents  ? 

A  Wise  Mother  and  a  Dutiful  Son. 

The  Hon.  Thomas  H.  Benton  paid  the  following  beauti- 
ful tribute  to  his  mother.  He  said,  "  My  mother  asked  me 
never  to  use  tobacco.  I  never  touched  it  from  that  day  to 

* 


34  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

this.  She  asked  me  never  to  gamble,  and  I  have  never 
gambled  ;  I  cannot  tell  who  is  losing  in  games  that  are 
being  played.  She  admonished  me,  too,  against  hard 
drinking,  and  whatever  capacity  for  endurance  I  have  at 
present,  and  whatever  usefulness  I  have,  I  attribute  to 
having  complied  with  her  pious  and  correct  wishes.  When 
I  was  seven  years  of  age  she  asked  me  not  to  drink, 
and  I  then  made  a  resolution  of  total  abstinence ;  and 
that  I  have  adhered  to  it  through  all  time,  I  owe  to  my 
mother." 

109.  Tell  the  story  of  Mrs.  Benton  and  her  sou. 

110.  In  what  respect  are  your  parents  your  superiors? 

Hurting  his  Father. 

A  boy  was  tempted  by  some  of  his  companions  to  take 
some  fruit  from  a  tree  which  his  father  had  forbidden  him 
to  touch. 

"  You  need  not  be  afraid,"  said  they,  "  for  if  your  father 
should  find  out  that  you  had  taken  them,  he  is  so  kind 
that  he  will  not  hurt  you." 

"That  is  the  very  reason,"  replied  the  boy,  "why  I 
should  not  touch  the  apples.  My  father  may  not  hurt  me, 
yet  I  know  my  disobedience  would  hurt  him,  and  that 
would  be  worse  to  me  than  anything  else." 

111.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  boy's  hurting  his  father. 

112.  How  should  children  fear  their  parents  ? 
They  should  fear  to  displease  them  by  disobedience. 

113.  How  should  children  speak  and  act  towards  their 
parents  ? 

114.  How  should  children  speak  about  their  parents? 

115.  How  should  parents  treat  disobedient  children  ? 


SOCIAL    GRADES.  35 


HONOR   TO   TEACHERS. 

116.  How  is  the  teacher  superior  to  children? 
In  age,  in  learning,  and  in  wisdom. 

117.  What  are  the  reasons  why  children  should  obey 
their  teacher? 

1st.  Because  obedience  to  our  parents  requires  obedi- 
ence to  the  teacher. 

2d.  Because  the  teacher  will  love  us  if  we  are  kind 
and  obedient. 

3d.  The  good  of  the  school  requires  that  all  shall  obey 
the  teacher's  rules. 

118.  How  may  a  teacher  be  compelled  to  love  the  chil- 
dren? 

119.  How  should  children  speak  and  act  to  their  teacher  ? 

120.  How  should  children  always  speak  of  their  teacher  ? 

121.  Why  are  children  often  so  unhappy  at  school?     Is 
it  because  they  are  always  kind,  polite,  obliging,  and  obe- 
dient? 

Ead  Company  and  Bad  Advice. 

Judge  Buller,  when  in  the  company  of  a  young  man  of 
sixteen,  cautioned  him  against  being  led  astray  by  the  ex- 
ample or  persuasion  of  others,  and  said,  "  If  I  had  listened 
to  the  advice  of  some  of  those  who  called  themselves  my 
friends  when  I  was  young,  instead  of  being  a  judge  of  the 
King's  Bench  I  should  have  died  long  ago  a  prisoner  of 
the  King's  Bench." 

122.  Repeat  Judge  Buller's  caution. 

123.  Why  do  children  disobey  the  rules  of  school? 
1st.  For  want  of  respect  for  themselves. 

2d.  For  want  of  regard  for  their  parents  and  teacher. 
3d.  On  account  of  bad  advice  from  others. 


36  THE   PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

124.  What  should  be  done  with  those  who  disobey  the 
laws  of  school  ? 

HONOR  TO  THE  AGED. 

"  Somebody's  Mother." 

The  conductor  on  the  cars  which  reached  Clinton,  In- 
diana, from  the  West  was  so  kind  to  an  old  lady  when 
she  got  off  the  train  at  De  Witt,  and  he  rendered  her  so 
much  assistance  in  getting  her  baggage  to  the  depot,  that 
a  passenger  asked  him  if  the  old  lady  was  his  mother. 
"  Oh,  no,"  was  the  reply,  "  but  she  is  somebody's  mother." 

This  is  the  conduct  of  a  true  gentleman,  and  is  in 
strange  contrast  with  that  of  those  who  do  not  under- 
stand that  true  politeneas  consists  in  a  kind  and  respectful 
attention  to  the  wants  and  wishes  of  the  aged.  The  moral 
law  says,  "  Thou  shalt  rise  up  before  the  hoary  head,  and 
honor  the  face  of  the  old  man,  and  fear  thy  God." 

125.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  polite  conductor  and  some- 
body's mother. 

126.  What  is  meant  by  "  the  hoary  head"? 

127.  How  would  you  wish  your  father  and  mother  to 
be  treated  ? 

How  School-boys  Preached  a  Sermon. 

A  sermon  can  be  preached  by  acts  as  well  as  by  words. 
The  boys  of  a  New  York  school,  some  time  since,  preached 
one  on  charity.  An  old  widow  of  about  seventy  years  had 
for  seven  years  past  a  candy  and  cake  stand  in  front  of 
the  school  building.  She  was  very  popular  with  the  boys, 
and  by  their  patronage  supported  herself  and  an  invalid 
son. 

Certain  storekeepers  in  the  neighborhood  sought  to  drive 
the  old  lady  away,  as  her  little  trade  interfered  with  their 


SOCIAL    GRADES.  37 


business.  By  some  one  her  stand  was  knocked  over,  and 
her  stock  of  candies — scarcely  worth  two  dollars — was 
broken  into  small  pieces.  The  boys,  coming  out  of  school 
and  seeing  her  distress,  devoted  their  pennies  to  her  relief, 
each  one  taking  a  fragment  and  paying  the  price  of  the 
whole  piece,  until  she  had  received  twelve  dollars. 

But  they  did  not  stop  at  that  part  of  the  sermon.  Two 
tons  of  coal,  a  bountiful  supply  of  provisions,  and  a  receipt 
for  two  months'  rent  were  sent  to  her  by  the  boy  preachers. 
Then  they  went  to  the  board  of  education  and  so  repre- 
sented her  case  that  the  old  lady  received  official  permission 
to  occupy  her  usual  place  in  front  of  the  school  building. 
Respect  for  the  aged  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  traits  of 
youth. 

128.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  New  York  school-boys. 

129.  How  may  we  show  our  respect  for  the  aged  ? 
1st.  By  offering  to  help  them  when  they  need  help. 
2d.  By  respecting  their  feelings. 

3d.  By  obeying  their  wishes. 

4th.  By  listening  respectfully  to  their  advice. 

130.  How  should  children  speak  to  their  elders? 

131.  How  should  children  speak  of  their  elders? 

132.  Why  should  young  people  listen  to  the  advice  of 
their  superiors  ? 

1st.  Because  age  and  experience  have  given  them  wisdom. 
2d.  Because  they  are  our  friends,  who  wish  us  well. 

POLITENESS   TO   SUPERIORS. 

An  Elderly  Customer. 

Kind  hearts  are  sure  to  show  themselves  in  kind  actions, 
and  young  people  ought  always  to  be  thoughtful  and  atten- 
tive to  the  aged.  Courtesy  to  others  is  often  one  of  the 


38  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

most  effective  ways  of  getting  on  in  the  world.  An  inci- 
dent in  proof  of  this. 

There  was  a  very  plainly  dressed,  elderly  lady,  who  was 
a  frequent  customer  at  the  then  leading  dry-goods  store  in 
Boston.  No  one  in  the  store  knew  her,  even  by  name.  All 
the  clerks  but  one  avoided  her,  and  gave  their  attentions  to 
those  who  were  better  dressed  and  more  pretentious.  The 
exception  was  one  young  man,  who  had  a  conscientious  re- 
gard for  duty  and  system.  He  never  left  another  customer 
to  wait  on  the  lady,  but  when  at  liberty,  he  waited  upon 
her  with  as  much  attention  as  though  she  had  been  a  prin- 
cess. This  continued  for  a  year  or  two,  until  the  young 
man  became  of  age.  One  morning  the  lady  approached 
the  young  man,  when  the  following  conversation  took  place : 

"  Young  man,  do  you  want  to  go  into  business  for  your- 
self?" 

"Yes,  ma'am,"  he  responded;  "but  I  have  neither 
money,  credit,  nor  friends,  nor  will  any  one  trust  me." 

"  Well,"  continued  the  lady,  "  you  go  and  select  a  good 
location,  ask  what  the  rent  is,  and  report  to  me,"  handing 
the  young  man  her  address. 

The  young  man  went,  found  a  capital  location  and  good 
store,  but  the  landlord  required  security,  which  he  could 
not  give.  Mindful  of  the  lady's  request,  he  forthwith  went 
to  her  and  reported. 

"Well,"  she  replied,  "you  go  and  tell  Mr. that  I 

will  be  responsible." 

He  went,  and  the  landlord,  or  agent,  was  surprised,  but 
the  bargain  was  closed.  The  next  day  the  lady  called  to 
ascertain  the  result.  The  young  man  told  her,  but  added, 
"  What  am  I  to  do  for  goods?  No  one  will  trust  me." 

"  You  may  go  and  see  Mr. ,  and  Mr. ,  and  Mr. 

,  and  tell  them  to  call  on  me." 

He  did,  and  his  store  was  soon  stocked  with  the  best  goods 


SOCIAL   GRADES.  39 


in  the  market.  There  are  many  in  this  city  who  remember 
the  circumstances  and  the  man,  says  a  Boston  paper.  He 
died  many  years  since,  and  left  a  fortune  of  three  hundred 
thousand  dollars.  So  much  for  politeness,  and  so  much 
for  civility,  and  so  much  for  treating  one's  elders  with  the 
deference  due  to  age,  in  whatever  garb  they  are  clothed. 

133.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  polite  clerk. 

134.  Shall  we  be  polite  only  for  the  sake  of  benefits  ? 
Repeat  the  Golden  Rule.     See  No.  91. 


POLITENESS   TO   EQUALS. 
BROTHERS   AND   SISTERS. 

135.  In  what  way  should  the  children  of  the  family  be 
equal? 

They  are  equal,  according  to  their  age,  in  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  home. 

136.  In  what  are  they  unequal? 

They  may  be  unequal  in  age,  in  knowledge,  and  in  bodily 
strength. 

137.  How  should  the  stronger  use  their  strength? 
1st.  In  defending  the  weaker  ones. 

2d.  In  helping  those  that  need  help. 
3d.  In  teaching  kindness  and  politeness. 

138.  How  shall  the  younger  and  weaker  treat  those  who 
are  older  ? 

1st.  They  should  return  kindness  for  kindness. 

2d.  They  should  give  no  more  trouble  than  is  necessary. 

3d.  They  should  be  willing  to  be  taught. 

139.  How  should  each  child  in  the  family  act  toward 
the  rest  ? 

Every  one  should  practise  the  Golden  Rule. 


40  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

140.  When  children  are  selfish,  cross,  or  mischievous, 
what  is  the  effect  on  the  rest  of  the  family  ? 

141.  Upon  what  does  the  happiness  of  the  home  largely 
depend  ? 

The  Young  Nurse. 

Voluntary  suffering  for  the  good  of  others  is  always  noble, 
but  when  this  is  multiplied  and  embittered  by  one's  own 
recent  affliction,  the  effort  is  truly  heroic.  The  Presby- 
terian of  Memphis  thus  refers  to  an  incident  of  the  late 
yellow  fever  plague  in  that  city : 

"  The  following  is  but  one  of  many  scenes  of  sorrow  and 
self-sacrifice  which  have  been  witnessed  in  our  city.  It 
was  in  a  family  of  six, — a  father  and  mother,  two  sisters, 
and  two  brothers.  The  fever  entered  their  house,  and  all 
were  stricken  down  but  one  little  boy  of  twelve  years.  He 
alone  was  left  to  minister  to  them. 

"The  mother  was  called  away,  and  the  little  boy  was  well- 
nigh  broken-hearted.  The  physician  had  just  called  when 
the  mother  died,  and  turning  to  the  weeping  child,  said  to 
him, — 

" '  You  must  dry  up  your  tears  and  go  wait  upon  your 
sisters,  and  don't  let  them  know,  by  your  crying,  that  your 
ma  is  dead,  for  it  may  hurt  them.' 

"  Brave  little  fellow  !  He  went  instantly,  washed  his  face 
and  dried  his  tears,  and  entered  the  room  where  his  sick 
sisters  lay.  The  first  question  which  was  asked  him  was, 
1  How  is  ma  ?' 

"  No  tears  betrayed  the  heavy  heart,  but  choking  down 
his  sorrow,  with  cheerful  tone  he  answered,  '  Ma  is  better 
off  now,'  and  the  sisters  did  not  know  their  loss.  Surely 
there  is  other  heroism  than  that  which  is  on  battle-fields." 

142.  Repeat  the  story  of  the  boy  nurse. 


SOCIAL    GRADES.  41 


143.  How  should  the  sick  or  the  infirm  act  toward  the 
rest  of  the  family? 

1st.  They  should  not  be  fretful  or  fault-finding. 
2d.  They  should  be  as  patient  as  possible. 
3d.  They  should  give  as  little  trouble  as  possible. 
4th.  They  should  never  forget  to  be  polite  to  those  who 
care  for  them. 

The  two  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

144.  Is  your  home  as  happy  as  it  might  be? 

145.  Do  you  do  all  you  can  to  make  your  home  happy  ? 

SCHOOL-MATES   AS   EQUALS. 

146.  In  what  respect  should  school-mates  be  considered 
equal  ? 

They  should  be  equal  in  all  the  rights  and  privileges  oi 
the  school. 

147.  How  are  school-mates  unequal  ? 

They  are  unequal  in  age,  in  size,  in  strength,  and  in  learn- 
ing. 

148.  How  should  the  older,  larger,  and  stronger  children 
treat  the  rest  ? 

Losing  a  Button. 

Walter  Scott  tells  a  story  of  a  boy  who  was  with  him  in 
school,  who  always  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class.  It  was 
the  custom  of  the  scholars  to  change  places  in  their  classes 
according  to  failure  or  success  in  recitation;  but  though 
Walter  was  number  two,  he  could  not  get  to  the  head,  be- 
cause this  boy  never  missed.  But  Walter  noticed  that  he 
had  a  habit,  when  puzzled  by  a  hard  question,  of  twirling 
a  button  on  his  jacket,  and  this  seemed  to  help  him  think 
out  a  right  answer. 

Walter,  more  through  mischief  than  any  worse  motive, 
cut  off  the  button  slyly  one  day,  to  see  if  it  would  make 

D* 


42  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

any  difference.  The  lesson  was  a  spelling  lesson,  and  sev- 
eral boys  at  the  foot  missed  a  hard  word.  It  came  round 
to  the  head.  The  boy  instinctively  put  his  hand  to  the  but- 
ton. It  was  gone.  He  looked  down  to  find  it,  grew  con- 
fused, missed  the  word,  and  Walter  went  above  him.  The 
boy  never  got  to  the  head  again,  seemed  to  lose  his  ambition, 
settled  down  into  a  second-rate  scholar,  and  never  accom- 
plished much  in  life.  Walter  Scott  declared  that  he  often 
suffered  sharp  remorse  at  the  thought  that  he  possibly  spoiled 
the  boy  for  school  and  for  life  by  cutting  off  the  button  that 
had  done  such  good  service. 

149.  Repeat  the  story  of  Walter  Scott. 

150.  Was  it  right  to  take  advantage  of  a  class-mate  In 
that  way?     Why? 

151.  Has  each  one  a  right  to  excel  in  scholarship  ?  Why  ? 

152.  Has  each  a  right  to  excel  in  politeness?     Why? 

153.  Should  there  be  any  difference  in  the  treatment  of 
children  in  school  on  account  of  the  wealth  or  social  stand- 
ing of  their  parents? 

154.  Should  there  be  any  difference  in  the  treatment  of 
children  in  school  on  account  of  race  or  color?     Why? 

155.  Because  we  treat  everybody  politely  must  we  make 
bosom  friends  of  every  one  ? 

We  should  be  polite  to  everybody,  but  only  intimate 
with  a  few. 


POLITENESS  TO  INFERIORS. 

156.  Who  are  the  inferiors  of  boys  and  girls? 

Those  who  are  younger  or  weaker  or  more  ignorant  than 
they. 

157.  How  should  we  treat  those  whom  we  think  are  our 
inferiors  ? 


SOCIAL   GRADES.  43 


We  should  treat  them  as  we  would  wish  our  superiors 
to  treat  us. 

Assumed  Superiority,  a  Fable. 

A  humming-bird  met  a  butterfly,  and,  being  pleased  with 
the  beauty  of  its  person  and  the  glory  of  its  wings,  made 
an  offer  of  perpetual  friendship. 

"I  cannot  think  of  it,"  was  the  reply,  "as  you  once 
spurned  me  and  called  me  a  crawling  dok." 

"  Impossible  !"  exclaimed  the  humming-bird.  "  I  always 
entertained  the  highest  respect  for  such  creatures  as  you." 

"  Perhaps  you  do  now,"  said  the  other ;  "  but  when  you 
insulted  me  I  was  a  caterpillar.  So  let  me  give  you  a  bit 
of  advice  :  Never  insult  the  humble,  as  they  may  some  day 
become  your  superiors." 

158.  Repeat  the  fable  and  state  its  moral. 

159.  If  we  refuse  to  be  polite  to  others  what  may  we 
expect  to  receive  from  them  ? 

" In  Honor  preferring  One  Another" 

This  is  a  sermon, — a  kind  of  sermon,  at  any  rate, — and 
of  course  it  must  have  a  text,  and  the  text  of  this  sermon  is 
the  verse,  or,  rather,  the  part  of  the  verse,  placed  at  the 
head  of  it.  This  sermon  will  have  three  parts, — an  ex- 
planation, an  illustration,  and  an  application. 

1st.  The  Explanation. — The  explanation  is  to  be  an  ex- 
planation of  the  text.  The  text  means  that  in  our  dealings 
with  our  fellow-creatures  we  must  treat  everybody  with 
kind  and  respectful  consideration. 

The  whole  verse  is  this,  "  Be  kindly  affectioned  one  to 
another  in  brotherly  love ;  in  honor  preferring  one  another." 
The  word  honor  means  respectful  politeness,  and  the  precept 
therefore  means  that  in  our  dealings  with  our  fellow-creat- 


44  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

ures  we  must  treat  everybody  in  a  respectful  and  proper 
manner.  Everybody.  It  does  not  say  in  honor  preferring 
the  rich  and  the  great,  but  one  another, — that  is,  everybody 
that  we  have  anything  to  do  with.  So  much  for  the  ex- 
planation of  the  text.  Now  for  the  illustration  of  the  mean- 
ing of  it. 

2d.  T/ie  Illustration. — A  poor  old  woman  was  engaged 
one  morning  mopping  down  the  stairs  at  a  hotel.  Before 
she  had  finished  the  work  some  gentlemen  began  to  come 
in> — travellers  who  had  arrived  by  an  early  train. 

The  first  that  came  was  a  man  they  called  colonel.  He 
was  not  a  real  colonel,  but  only  a  make-believe.  He  came 
hurrying  along,  and  without  giving  the  poor  woman  time 
to  move  her  pail  said  to  her,  in  a  rude  and  surly  voice, 
"Take  your  pail  out  of  the  way,  old  woman.  Can't 
you  get  your  work  done  up  in  the  morning  earlier  than 
this?" 

He  looked  upon  the  woman  with  an  expression  of  con- 
tempt upon  his  countenance  as  he  passed  her,  and  muttered 
to  another  man  who  was  behind  him  as  he  went  up  the 
stairs,  "  What  an  ugly  old  hag  !" 

Very  soon  afterwards  two  other  gentlemen  came  in.  The 
foremost,  who  was  somewhat  advanced  in  life,  had  a  travel- 
ling-bag in  his  hand.  The  other  one,  who  was  younger^ 
followed  him.  The  old  gentleman  paused  a  moment  as  he 
came  up,  and  then  said,  "  Don't  move  your  pail,  rna'am  ; 
I  can  step  over  it."  She,  however,  made  haste  to  move  it. 
"  I  am  sorry  to  disturb  you  at  your  work,"  said  he,  and 
looked  down  at  her  with  a  smile  and  nodded  as  he  passed. 
The  poor  woman's  face  was  lighted  up  with  something  like 
a  smile  in  return,  and  as  the  gentleman  passed  on  she  said 
to  herself, — 

"  There's  one  man,  at  least,  that  don't  hate  me."  And  a 
tear  came  into  her  eye. 


SOCIAL   GRADES.  45 


When  the  two  gentlemen  reached  the  top  of  the  stairs 
the  younger  one  said  to  the  older,  in  a  joking  way, — 

"  You  were  very  polite  to  the  old  woman,  brother  George." 

"Well,"  rejoined  George,  "stop  a  minute  and  look  at 
her." 

They  had  by  this  time  reached  the  top  of  the  stairs,  and 
had  begun  to  turn  to  go  along  the  hall,  but  they  stopped 
and  looked  over  the  baluster  at  the  woman,  still  going  on 
with  her  work  below. 

"  Look  at  her,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  speaking,  however, 
in  a  low  tone,  so  that  the  woman  did  not  hear  him.  She 
did  not  even  notice  that  the  gentlemen  had  stopped.  "  Look 
at  her.  See  her  sallow  and  wrinkled  face ;  and  what  a  care- 
worn and  sorrowful  expression  upon  it!  There  was  a  time 
when  she  was  a  young  girl,  with  a  blooming  face  and  white 
neck,  and  young  men  in  love  with  her.  Everything  in  life 
looked  bright  and  happy  to  her  then.  But  look  at  her  now. 
Poor  thing !  We  can't  help  her  much,  but  we  can  at  any 
rate  respect  her  misfortunes,  and  speak  a  kind  word  to  her 
as  we  go  by." 

3d.  And  now  for  the  application.  Whenever  you  see  a 
poor  woman,  or  a  poor  man,  or  even  a  poor  child  in  the 
street,  do  not  treat  them  in  a  harsh  and  contemptuous  man- 
ner, but  speak  to  them,  if  you  have  occasion  to  speak  at  all, 
in  a  kind  and  considerate  tone.  By  so  doing  you  will  be 
obeying  the  precept  of  the  text,  and  instead  of  adding  to 
the  humiliation  and  suffering  of  the  poor  and  the  miser- 
able you  will  do  what  you  can  to  lighten  their  sorrows. 
To  find  that  you  do  not  look  upon  and  speak  to  them  with 
contempt,  but  treat  them  with  some  degree  of  kindness  and 
respect,  will  make  them  feel  not  quite  so  unhajfpy,  perhaps, 
as  they  did  before. 

This  is  the  end  of  the  sermon.—  Jacob  Abbott. 


46  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

160.  Repeat  the  "  text"  of  Mr.  Abbott's  sermon. 

161.  Kepeat  the  "  illustration." 

162.  Give  the  "  application"  of  the  sermon. 

The  next  two  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud. 

163.  Do  you  always  treat  your  school-mates  with  kindness 
and  politeness? 

Are  you  always  regardful  of  the  rights  and  feelings  of 
the  servants  ? 


PERSONAL  HABITS, 

164.  What  does  good  society  require  as  to  our  persons  ? 
That  our  persons  and  clothes  be  neat  and  clean. 

165.  What  would  be  the  effect  should  cleanliness  be 
neglected  ? 

1st.  A  dirty  person  cannot  have  much  self-respect. 
2d.  Cannot  have  the  respect  of  well-bred  people. 
3d.  Cannot  be  either  comfortable  or  healthy. 

THE  SKIN. 

166.  What  care  must  be  taken  of  the  skin  to  keep  it 
soft  and  clean  ? 

1st.  The  whole  body  should  often  be  thoroughly  washed. 

2d.  The  face,  neck,  hands,  and  wrists  should  be  well 
washed  at  least  once  every  day. 

3d.  We  should  use  soft  water,  fine  soap,  and  a  crash 
towel. 

4th.  When  the  skin  is  washed  clean  it  should  be  thor- 
oughly dried  to  prevent  chapping. 

THE   NAILS. 

167.  How  should  the  nails  be  kept? 

1st.  They  should  be  neatly  cut  and  trimmed. 


PERSONAL  HABITS.  47 

2d.  They  should  always  be  kept  clean. 

3d.  They  should  not  be  trimmed  by  biting  them. 

168.  How  can   the   habit  of  biting   the   nails  be  cor- 
rected ? 

Only  by  care  and  determination  to  correct  it. 

THE  HAIR. 

169.  How  can  the  hair  be  kept  in  order? 

1st.  It  should  be  combed  and  brushed  at  least  once  every 
day. 

2d.  The  head  should  be  washed  now  and  then  thor« 
oughly. 

3d.  Each  boy  and  girl  should  have  a  brush  and  comb. 

4th.  It  is  not  polite  to  borrow  a  brush  and  comb. 

5th.  No  oils  or  pomatums  should  be  put  upon  the  hair ; 
they  catch  dust  and  make  the  head  dirty. 

THE   TEETH. 

170.  What  are  the  rules  for  preserving  the  teeth? 

1st.  They  should  be  cleaned  with  a  soft  brush  every  day. 

2d.  They  should  be  kept  free  from  tartar,  which  crusts 
about  the  teeth  and  makes  them  decay. 

3d.  Tooth-picks  made  of  wood  or  quill  should  be  used, 
and  not  metal. 

4th.  When  teeth  begin  to  decay  they  should  be  cared  for 
by  the  dentist. 

5th.  Tooth-brushes  and  tooth-picks  are  not  kept  to  lend. 

THE   DRESS. 

What  a  Clean  Apron  did. 

Tidy  neatness  in  girls  is  an  attraction  quite  equal  to  a 
pretty  face ;  and  it  is  a  better  recommendation,  because  a 


48  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

safer  evidence  of  good  qualities  of  character.  Incidents 
like  the  following  are  abundant  to  prove  this : 

A  lady  wanted  a  trusty  little  maid  to  help  her  take  charge 
of  a  baby.  Nobody  could  recommend  one,  and  she  hardly 
knew  where  to  look  for  the  right  kind  of  girl.  One  day 
she  was  passing  a  by-lane,  and  saw  a  little  girl  with  a  clean 
apron  holding  a  baby  in  the  door-way  of  a  small  house. 

"  That  is  the  maid  for  me,"  said  the  lady.  She  stopped 
and  asked  the  girl  for  her  mother. 

"  Mother  has  gone  out  to  work,"  was  the  reply.  "  Father 
is  dead,  and  now  mother  has  to  do  everything." 

"  Should  you  like  to  come  and  live  with  me  ?"  asked  the 
lady. 

"  I  should  like  to  help  mother  somehow." 

The  lady,  more  pleased  than  ever  with  the  tidy  looks  of 
the  girl,  called  to  see  her  mother ;  and  the  end  of  it  was 
she  took  the  maid  to  live  with  her,  and  found — what  in- 
deed she  expected  to  find — that  the  neat  appearance  of  her 
person  showed  the  neat  and  orderly  bent  of  her  mind.  She 
had  no  careless  habits,  she  was  no  friend  to  dirt ;  but  every- 
thing she  had  to  do  with  was  folded  up  and  put  away,  and 
kept  carefully.  The  lady  finds  great  comfort  in  her,  and 
helps  her  mother,  whose  lot  is  not  now  so  hard  as  it  was. 
She  smiles  when  she  says,  "Sally's  recommendation  was 
her  clean  apron." 

171.  Relate  the  story  of  the  clean  apron. 

172.  What  are  the  objects  of  dress? 

1st.  To  secure  comfort  and  to  promote  health. 
2d.  To  preserve  modesty. 
3d.  To  please  the  taste. 

173.  What  kind  of  clothing  should  be  worn? 

We  should  wear  such  clothes  as  are  suited  to  the  season, 
to  our  work,  and  to  our  manner  of  living. 


PERSONAL  HABITS.  49 

174.  Is  it  ever  proper  for  us  to  wear  dirty  clothes? 
Only  while  we  may  be  at  dirty  work. 

175.  What  should  we  do  when  the  dirty  work  is  done  ? 
We  should  wash  our  body  and  change  the  clothes. 

176.  What  care  should  be  taken  after  the  dirty  work  is 
done? 

Care  should  be  taken  that  no  unpleasant  odors  shall  cling 
to  our  persons  or  clothes. 

Appearances  Deceitful. 

Landlords  and  waiters,  who  form  their  estimate  of  men 
from  looks  and  clothing,  deserve  to  fall  into  blunders 
which  mortify  their  self-conceit.  A  capital  case  of  this 
kind  happened  recently  in  Germany. 

A  stranger  who  arrived  at  Ragatz  to  enjoy  its  healthful 
springs  was  heard  at  the  depot  to  inquire  for  a  vehicle  to 
take  him  to  some  hotel.  It  was  a  gentleman  advanced  in 
age,  plainly  clad;  in  fact,  his  clothes  discovered  an  un- 
usual simplicity.  On  his  arm  he  bore  a  travelling-gown, 
and  his  baggage  was  by  no  means  extensive.  He  had 
been  referred  to  the  Ragatz  Hotel,  but,  being  somewhat 
absent-minded,  he  mounted  the  omnibus  of  the  Spring 
Hotel,  at  which  place  it  left  him. 

The  porter  scrutinized  him  closely,  assigning  him  rooms 
on  the  third  story.  Soon  a  waiter  knocked  and  presented 
the  hotel  register,  in  which  the  old  gentleman  signed  his 
name  and  returned  him  the  book.  The  waiter  read  the 
name,  when,  eying  the  guest  at  first  with  surprise  and 
then  in  doubt,  he  ran  forthwith  to  the  proprietor  of  the 
hotel.  Having  scarcely  observed  the  name  of  his  guest  he 
ran  up-stairs,  and  entering  the  room  with  a  low  bow,  stam- 
mered some  kind  of  an  apology,  saying  that  the  salons  of 
the  entire  first  story  were  at  his  disposal. 


50  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

"  I  thank  you,  my  friend,"  answered  the  stranger ;  "  I 
find  myself  very  comfortable  here,  indeed;  and,  besides, 
these  rooms  are  cheaper." 

Our  host  retreated,  and  the  stranger,  who  retained  his 
rooms  on  the  third  story,  was  a  person  of  no  less  conse- 
quence than  General  Field-Marshal  Moltke. 

177.  Eepeat  the  story  of  Field-Marshal  Moltke. 

178.  What  should  be  the  style  of  our  dress? 

It  should  always  be  neat  and  clean,  and  should  be  suited 
to  our  age  and  kind  of  work. 

179.  What  quality  of  clothes  should  we  wear  ? 
Such  as  will  make  others  neither  envy  nor  despise  us. 

180.  Is  it  always  safe  to  judge  people  by  their  clothes? 
No;  for  the  best  people  do  not  always  dress  in  the  richest 

suits,  and  the  worst  people  sometimes  do. 

181.  Is  it  safe  to  judge  of  children  at  school  by  the 
cleanliness  of  their  clothes  ?     Why  ? 

Mortified. — Mrs.  Porter's  Bonnet. 

If  one  is  careful  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  rudeness, 
and  to  treat  all  persons,  no  matter  how  plainly  dressed, 
with  politeness,  he  will  be  saved  from  mortification.  The 
bearing  of  this  observation  may  be  seen  in  an  anecdote  of 
Mrs.  Porter,  of  Niagara  Falls.  She  was  the  wife  of  Gen- 
eral Porter,  a  distinguished  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and 
a  member  of  the  cabinet  of  President  John  Quincy  Adams. 
Mrs.  Porter  was  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments,  excel- 
ling as  a  housewife,  and  in  the  grace  and  brilliancy  which 
are  so  attractive  in  the  drawing-room. 

Usually  she  dressed  in  plain  apparel.  One  day,  she 
stopped  to  dine  at  a  hotel  in  Batavia,  New  York,  having 
driven  there  in  her  carriage.  Leaving  her  bonnet,  a  very 
plain  one,  on  the  table  of  the  sitting-room,  she  went  in  to 


PERSONAL  HABITS.  51 

dinner.  On  her  return,  she  found  a  gentleman,  one  of  a 
gay  wedding-party,  carrying  her  bonnet  on  the  end  of  his 
cane,  and  offering  it  for  sale  at  auction.  Waiting  a  few 
moments,  she  remarked  that  if  he  could  not  get  a  satisfac- 
tory bid  for  the  bonnet  she  would  take  it.  Whereupon  he 
tossed  it  to  her,  superciliously,  as  if  she  were  a  person  as 
inferior  as  her  bonnet  was  plain.  Mrs.  Porter,  without 
noticing  the  action,  entered  her  carriage  and  drove  to  her 
home  at  Black  Rock. 

The  next  day,  the  gentlemen  of  the  wedding-party  called 
on  General  Porter,  to  whom  they  had  letters  of  introduc- 
tion. Mr.  Porter  invited  them  and  their  ladies  to  dine 
with  him  on  the  following  day.  At  the  appointed  time 
the  party  were  shown  into  the  parlor,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
General  and  Mrs.  Porter  entered.  Immediately  Mrs.  Por- 
ter was  recognized  as  the  woman  whose  bonnet  they  had 
made  so  much  sport  of.  She,  also  recognizing  the  party, 
received  them  with  a  little  more  than  her  usual  grace  and 
dignity.  Not  a  word  was  uttered  concerning  the  unfor- 
tunate auction,  but  Mrs.  Porter  would  have  been  more  or 
less  than  human  if  she  had  not  slightly  enjoyed  their  em- 
barrassing mortification.  The  auctioneer  said  that  he 
never  felt  so  wretchedly  or  behaved  so  awkwardly  as  at 
that  dinner-table. 

182.  Relate  the  story  of  Mrs.  Porter's  bonnet. 

1 83.  How  do  modest  people  always  dress  ? 
Modest  people  dress  so  as  not  to  attract  attention. 

184.  How  do  immodest  people  dress? 

185.  How  do  Indians  dress? 

Indians  dress  mostly  for  show,  and  have  no  modesty. 

186.  When  shall  we  follow  the  fashions  in  dress? 
1st.  When  the  fashion  does  not  injure  our  health. 
2d.  When  it  does  not  interfere  with  our  comfort. 


52  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

3d.  When  it  does  not  shock  our  modesty. 
4th.  When  not  to  follow  it  would  attract  unpleasant 
notice. 

Church  Costume. 

An  American  lady,  recently,  in  London,  went  to  church 
in  a  hat,  not  knowing  the  English  prejudice  concerning 
that  article  being  worn  in  the  sanctuary.  All  her  friends 
looked  at  her  gravely,  and  spoke  coldly.  She  could  not 
imagine  what  was  the  matter,  and  asked  her  husband 
if  there  was  anything  wrong  about  her  head.  He  scruti- 
nized her,  and  told  her  no ;  but  still  she  could  see  that  it 
was  the  object  of  attention,  and  that  many  looked  at  her 
askance.  Glad  when  church  was  out,  and  not  satisfied  that 
something  was  not  out  of  place  or  awry,  she  stopped  in  at 
a  friend's  who  had  lived  lately  in  London  and  told  her  of 
her  embarrassment. 

"Why,"  said  her  friend,  "it  is  that  hat." 

"  The  hat !  What  is  the  matter  with  the  hat  ?"  said  the 
young  wife,  taking  it  off  her  head.  "  My  bonnet  did  not 
come  from  Paris,  and  the  hat  is  a  real  beauty." 

"  So  it  is,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  but  it  is  a  highly  improper 
head-covering  to  be  worn  in  church, — an  abomination  to 
English  women.  Your  wearing  it  was  a  serious  misde- 
meanor,— the  veriest  miss  is  not  allowed  to  wear  a  hat  to 
service.  Seeing  that  your  hat  was  wrong,  people  supposed 
something  was  wrong  with  you.  You  can  wear  a  hat  almost 
anywhere  else,  but  if  you  want  to  go  to  church  in  England 
and  be  thought  respectable,  you  must  put  on  a  bonnet." 

187.  Relate  the  story  of  the  hat  in  church. 


LANGUAGE.  53 


LANGUAGE, 

188.  What  language  should  well-bred  people  use? 
Well-bred  people  use  only  polite  language. 

189.  What  is  meant  by  polite  language? 

It  is  such  a  choice  of  words  as  shall  express  our  thoughts 
plainly  and  simply. 

"Street  Talk." 

Men  use  it,  boys  shout  it,  and,  what  is  far  worse,  young 
women  and  girls  speak  it.  The  fact  that  it  comes  from  the 
"  street"  does  not  prevent  its  entrance  into  the  parlor.  In 
spite  of  its  vulgarity,  it  is  cherished  by  those  who  claim  to 
be  genteel.  Parents  and  children  should  aim  to  banish  it 
from  polite  society.  This  incident  may  teach  the  way  of 
eradicating  the  bad  habit: 

"  Learn  to  talk  like  a  gentleman,  my  boy.  I  am  sorry 
to  hear  you  talk  '  street  talk.'  Do  quit  it." 

"  What  is  'street  talk/  papa?" 

"What  did  you  just  now  say  to  sister?" 

"  I  told  her  to  be  quiet." 

"  But  you  said  '  Hush  up/  and  said  it  very  loud  ana 
rudely.  What  did  you,  ten  minutes  ago,  say  to  Martha  ?" 

"  I  told  her  to  go  out  of  my  way." 

"  But  you  did  not  say  it  half  so  nicely  as  that.  You  said 
( Get  out  of  this.7  And  I  think  you  called  her  some  name." 

Harry  looked  ashamed,  but  he  answered, — 

"  I  called  her  a  dirty  snick." 

"  Just  so.  That  is  what  I  mean  by  street  talk.  All  such 
coarse,  vulgar  words,  and  especially  the  rough  tone  and 
manner,  you  hear  on  the  street.  They  belong  to  those  boys 
who  have  never  been  taught  any  better,  and  to  those  men 


54  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

who,  though  knowing  better,  yet  do  not  care  anything  about 
the  better  way.    But  my  boy  should  never  use  street  talk." 

190.  What  is  meant  by  "street  talk"? 

191.  How  do  persons  learn  slang,  or  street  talk? 
By  keeping  company  with  impolite  people. 

192.  Do  people  always  know  when  they  use  slang? 
No ;  sometimes  it  is  done  as  a  habit,  without  thinking. 

SWEARING. 

Rowland  Hill  and  the  Sea-Captain. 

"  Once,  when  I  was  returning  from  Ireland,"  says  Row- 
land Hill,  "  I  found  myself  much  annoyed  by  the  reprobate 
conduct  of  the  mate  and  captain,  who  were  both  given  to 
the  scandalous  habit  of  swearing.  First  the  captain  swore 
at  the  mate,  then  the  mate  swore  at  the  captain,  then  they 
both  swore  at  the  wind,  when  I  called  to  them  with  a  strong 
voice  for  fair  play. 

"  '  Stop  !  stop  !'  said  I.  '  If  you  please,  gentlemen,  let 
let  us  have  fair  play :  it  is  my  turn  now.' 

"'At  what  is  it  your  turn,  pray?'  said  the  captain. 

"'At  swearing/  I  replied. 

"  Well,  they  waited  and  waited  until  their  patience  was 
exhausted,  and  then  wanted  me  to  make  haste  and  take  my 
turn.  I  told  them,  however,  that  I  had  a  right  to  take  my 
own  time,  and  swear  at  my  own  convenience. 

"  To  this  the  captain  replied,  with  a  laugh, — 

"  '  Perhaps  you  don't  mean  to  take  your  turn  ?' 

" '  Pardon  me,  captain,'  I  answered,  *  but  I  do,  as  soon 
as  I  can  find  the  good  of  doing  so.' 

"  My  friends,  I  did  not  hear  another  oath  on  the  voyage." 

193.  Relate  the  story  of  Rowland  Hill  and  the  sea- 
captain. 


LANGUAGE.  55 


1 94.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  about  swearing  ? 
The  moral  law  says,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of 

the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain ;"  "  Swear  not  at  all." 

195.  Why  do  people  use  profane  language  ? 

1st.  Some  people  swear  because  they  think  it  makes  them 
appear  manly. 

2d.  Some  swear  from  habit,  without  thinking. 

3d.  Some  swear  when  they  become  angry. 

4th.  Some  swear  from  downright  badness,  because  they 
fear  not  God  nor  regard  man. 

A  Polite  Reproof. 

It  would  be  well  for  men  who  offend  against  good  morals 
and  good  manners  if  they  met  with  reprovers  as  ingenious 
and  polite  as  are  shown  in  the  following  incident : 

A  lady  riding  in  a  car  on  the  New  York  Central  Railroad 
was  disturbed  in  her  reading  by  the  conversation  of  two  gen- 
tlemen occupying  the  seat  just  before  her.     One  of  them 
seemed  to  be  a  student  of  some  college  on  his  way  home 
for  a  vacation.     He  used  much  profane  language,  greatly 
to  the  annoyance  of  the  lady.     She  thought  she  would 
rebuke  him,  and,  begging  pardon  for  interrupting  them, 
asked  the  young  student  if  he  had  studied  the  languages. 
"  Yes,  madam,  I  have  mastered  the  languages  quite  well." 
"  Do  you  read  and  speak  Hebrew  ?" 
"Quite  fluently." 

"  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  do  me  a  small  favor?" 
"  With  great  pleasure.     I  am  at  your  service." 
"  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  do  your  swearing  in  Hebrew  ?" 
We  may  well  suppose  the  lady  was  not  annoyed  any  more. 

196.  Tell  how  the  lady  reproved  the  swearers. 

197.  Is  there  any  good  excuse  for  swearing? 


56  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

198.  Have  persons  a  right  to  offend  others  by  swearing 
in  their  presence  ? 

A  Rebuke. 

Too  many  military  men  are  profane,  but  there  are  some 
military  men  who  not  only  do  not  indulge  in  profanity 
themselves,  but  know  how  to  rebuke  it  in  others,  as  is 
shown  in  the  following  incident: 

A  friend  went  into  Colonel 's  office  the  other  morn- 
ing, and  bustling  up  to  the  stove,  observed,  "  God,  ain't  it 
cold  ?"  and  he  looked  at  the  colonel. 

The  colonel  also  looked  at  him,  but  made  no  motion  of 
recognition.  The  friend  seemed  embarrassed,  and  immedi- 
ately took  his  leave.  Afterwards  he  met  the  colonel  in 
his  own  office. 

"  Colonel,"  he  said,  "  why  didn't  you  say  something  when 
I  spoke  to  you  the  other  morning  ?" 

"  You  didn't  address  me,"  answered  the  colonel.  "  You 
said,  '  God,  ain't  it  cold  ?'  and  when  a  man  asks  the  Al- 
mighty a  question,  he  is  supposed  not  to  care  for  outside 
interference." 

The  friend  stared  at  the  colonel,  but  the  colonel  was  in 
earnest  and  looked  back  at  him  without  weakening.  It  was 
a  capital  rebuke  of  a  detestable  habit,  for  the  moral  law 
declares,  "  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God  in  vain." 

199.  What  was  the  colonel's  rebuke? 

The  Prayer. 

A  story  is  related  by  Mr.  S.,  a  gentleman  in  one  of  our 
cities,  who  was  hurrying  home  one  night  after  the  labors 
of  the  day  were  over,  and  as  he  was  passing  a  corner  lit  up 
by  a  street  lamp,  he  noticed  several  persons  standing  together 
who  seemed  to  be  engaged  in  a  very  animated  conversation. 


LANGUAGE.  57 


He  knew  the  parties,  one  of  whom  was  a  particular  friend, 
but  not  wishing  to  delay  he  hurried  along.  As  he  passed, 
however,  he  heard  some  language  that  caused  him  great 
mortification,  which  made  a  strong  impression  on  his  mind. 

Several  days  passed  before  the  two  friends  again  met. 
As  they  were  now  alone,  Mr.  S.  remarked  in  a  very  serious 
manner,  "  I  was  very  much  surprised  to  hear  you  praying 
on  the  street  corner  a  few  evenings  ago." 

"  Oh/7  said  the  other,  "  you  must  be  mistaken ;  I  never 
prayed  on  the  street  corner.  I'm  not  a  praying  man." 

"  But,"  Mr.  S.  persisted,  "  I  cannot  be  mistaken.  I  cer- 
tainly passed  you  on  the  corner,  and  you  seemed  to  be  earn- 
estly engaged  in  prayer.  You  repeatedly  offered  the  same 
petition  in  reference  to  some  subject  in  which  you  seemed 
to  feel  a  deep  interest.  You  frequently  asked  God  Al- 
mighty to  damn  your  soul,  and  I  thought  it  would  be  a 
fearful  thing  if  he  would  answer  your  terrible  prayer." 

The  man  was  overwhelmed  with  shame  and  confusion, 
for  if  he  meant  what  he  said  it  was  an  awful  prayer,  and 
if  he  did  not  mean  what  he  said  it  was  a  dreadful  impiety. 
In  either  case  he  violated  the  moral  law,  which  says,  "  Thou 
shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain." 

200.  When  a  man  profanely  swears  that  a  thing  is  true, 
is  he  more  likely  to  be  believed? 

No.  Because  the  man  who  does  not  fear  to  swear  pro- 
fanely might  not  fear  to  tell  a  lie.  The  one  is  no  greater 
crime  than  the  other. 

Silliness  of  Swearing. 

The  habit  of  swearing  is  as  silly  as  it  is  wicked.  Boys, 
thinking  it  mannish,  sometimes  use  oaths  to  show  off  their 
smartness.  Rev.  Sydney  Smith  was  once  conveyed  in  a 
stage-coach  by  a  youth  who  mixed  his  conversation  with 


58  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

many  swear-words.  The  clerical  wit,  having  endured  the 
annoyance  for  some  time,  determined  to  punish  the  youth, 
and  put  a  stop  to  his  bad  manners.  Having  asked  permis- 
sion of  the  company  to  tell  them  a  story,  he  said, — 

"  Once  on  a  time  there  was  a  king  (boots,  sugar-tongs,  and 
tinder-boxes  /)  who,  at  a  grand  ball  (boots,  sugar-tongs,  and 
tinder-boxes  !),  picked  up  the  Countess  of  Shrewsbury's  gar- 
ter (boots,  sugar-tongs,  and  tinder-boxes  !),  and  said,  '  Honi 
soit  qui  mat  y  pense'  (boots,  sugar-tongs,  and  tinder-boxes  /)." 

"Rather  old,  that  story/'  said  the  youth;  "but  what 
.  .  .  have  boots,  sugar-tongs,  and  tinder-boxes  to  do  with 
it?" 

"  I  will  tell  you,  my  young  friend,"  replied  Smith,  "  when 
you  tell  me  what  your  oaths  have  to  do  with  your  conver- 
sation. In  the  mean  time,  allow  me  to  say  that  that  is  my 
style  of  swearing." 

201.  Relate  the  Rev.  Sydney  Smith's  style  of  swearing. 

202.  Which  is  the  better  style  of  swearing? 

203.  Why  did  Mr.  Smith  tell  his  story  in  that  way? 

Afraid  to  Swear  Alone. 

The  wicked  practice  of  swearing,  which  is  so  common  as 
to  offend  the  ear  in  every  hotel,  and  almost  in  every  street, 
is  often  mere  bravado.  Boys  think  it  sounds  manly  to  be 
profane,  and  men  think  it  gives  force  and  character  to  their 
sayings.  Unlike  most  other  vices,  it  is  done  openly,  and  is 
intended  by  the  swearer  for  other  people's  ears. 

"  I  will  give  you  ten  dollars,"  said  a  man  to  a  profane 
swearer,  "if  you  will  go  into  the  village  graveyard  at 
twelve  o'clock  to-night  and  swear  the  same  oaths  you  have 
just  littered,  when  you  are  alone  with  God." 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  man ;  "  an  easy  way  to  make  ten  dol- 
lars." 


LANGUAGE.  59 


"Well,  come  to-morrow  and  say  you  did  it,  and  the 
money  is  yours." 

Midnight  came.  The  man  went  into  the  graveyard.  It 
was  a  night  of  great  darkness.  As  he  entered  the  cemetery 
not  a  sound  was  heard :  all  was  still  as  death.  Then 
came  the  gentleman's  words  to  his  mind.  "  Alone  with 
God  !"  rang  in  his  ears.  He  did  not  dare  to  utter  an  oath, 
but  fled  from  the  place,  crying,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner !" 

204.  Tell  the  story  of  the  swearer  "  alone  with  God." 

205.  Is  it  a  sign  of  courage  or  manliness  to  swear? 
The  following  four  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

206.  Do  you  use  slang  or  street  talk  ? 

207.  Do  you  use  profane  language  ? 

208.  If  you  do  use  such  language,  can  you  give  yourself 
any  good  reason  why  you  do  it  ? 

209.  If  you  have  the  habit  of  using  bad  language,  would 
it  not  be  well  to  correct  the  habit  at  once? 

AN  AGREEABLE   VOICE. 

210.  What  does  the  tone  of  our  voice  often  show? 
Our  tones  of  voice  often  show  the  habit  of  the  mind, 

whether  we  are  good-natured  or  cross. 

211.  What  kind  of  tones  may  be  cultivated? 

A  kind,  gentle,  winning  tone  or  a  harsh,  unloving  one. 

212.  How  do  anger  and  fretfulness  always  show  them- 
selves in  the  voice? 

By  a  high  pitch,  loud  words,  and  harsh  tones. 

213.  How  may  we  often  control  our  temper? 
By  speaking  in  a  low  tone. 

214.  What  kind  of  tones  should  we  cultivate  ? 

Such  as  show  that  we  are  happy  and  wish  to  make  others 
happy. 


CO  THE   PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

What  to  do  when  Angry. 

"  I  get  mad  so  quickly,  and  then  I'm  sure  to  say  some- 
thing that  I'm  sorry  for  ever  afterwards." 

"  When  angry,  count  ten  before  speaking,"  answered  the 
boy's  father. 

The  next  time  the  boy  fell  into  a  fit  of  anger  with  one 
of  his  school-fellows  he  remembered  the  advice  of  his  father, 
and  counted  ten.  By  this  time  he  was  able  to  keep  back 
the  hard  words  that  were  ready  to  leap  from  his  tongue,  and 
so  saved  himself  the  grief  of  shame  and  repentance. 

Try  this  remedy,  quick-tempered  boys  and  girls.  It  is 
best,  of  course,  not  to  get  angry ;  but  if  you  do  happen  to 
lose  your  self-control,  then  put  a  seal  on  your  lips,  and 
remain  silent  until  your  hot  blood  has  cooled  a  little. 

215.  Tell  what  to  do  when  angry. 

216.  Are  there  any  other  ways  of  restraining  bad  temper  ? 

217.  Name  other  unpleasant  tones  that  people  use  when 
they  are  impolite. 

There  are  the  peevish,  the  whining,  the  scolding,  the 
impudent,  and  the  angry  tones. 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

218.  Have  you  the  habit  of  using  any  of  these  disagree- 
able and  impolite  tones  ? 

219.  Does  it  add  to  your  happiness  to  use  such  tones? 

220.  Does  it  add  to  the  pleasure  of  your  friends  ? 

MANNER   OF  SPEAKING. 

221.  What  should  be  our  manner  of  speaking  to  others? 
We  should  speak  in  a  clear,  distinct  voice,  looking  the 

person  to  whom  we  speak  in  the  face. 

222.  How  should  we  act  when  we  are  spoken  to  ? 


LANGUAGE. 


1st.  We  should  give  attention  by  looking  the  person  in 
the  face. 

2d.  We  should  give  a  polite  and  distinct  answer. 
223.  How  may  we  be  impolite  in  our  answers? 
1st.  By  not  seeming  to  hear  what  is  said  to  us. 
2d.  By  not  looking  at  the  person  speaking  to  us. 
3d.  By  giving  a  careless  answer. 
4th.  By  speaking  indistinctly  and  in  a  low  tone. 
5th.  By  replying  rudely. 

Forgetting  Names. 

The  infirmity  of  forgetting  names  is  a  very  painful  one ; 
but  it  often  arises  from  not  fixing  a  name  in  the  mind,  and 
then  allowing  one's  self  to  become  confused  in  attempting 
to  recall  it. 

There  are  well-authenticated  instances  of  persons  who 
suddenly  found  that  they  could  not  remember  their  own 
names.  An  ambassador  at  St.  Petersburg  was  once  in  this 
case  when  calling  at  a  house  where  he  was  not  known  by 
the  servants,  and  he  had  to  apply  to  his  companion  for  the 
necessary  information.  The  names  of  common  things  are 
sometimes  strangely  forgotten.  The  wife  of  an  eminent 
jurist,  who  consulted  Dr.  Trousseau,  of  Paris,  told  him 
that  her  husband  would  say  to  her, — 

"  Give  me  my — my — my — dear  me !  my — you  know," 
and  he  would  point  to  his  head. 

"Your  hat?" 

"Yes,  my  hat." 

Sometimes,  again,  he  would  ring  the  bell  before  going 
out,  and  say  to  the  servant, — 

"  Give  me  my  um — umbrel — umbrel — oh,  dear !" 

"Your  umbrella?" 

"Oh,  yes;  my  umbrella." 

And  yet  at  the  very  time  his  conversation  was  as  sensible 


62  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

as  ever.     He  wrote  or  read  of  or  discussed  most  difficult 
points  of  law. 

A  patient  will  often  use  a  form  of  circumlocution  to 
express  his  meaning;  thus,  one  man  who  could  not  re- 
member scissors,  would  say,  "  It  is  what  we  cut  .with." 

224.  Relate  the  story  of  "  Forgetting  Names." 

225.  Hoiv  may  such  a  habit  be  overcome  ? 


GRACEFULNESS, 

226.  How  shall  we  acquire  habits  of  gracefulness? 
By  learning  to  stand,  to  walk,  and  to  sit  properly. 

227.  Is  it  important  to  learn  these  things  ? 

Yes,  if  we  wish  to  make  ourselves  agreeable  to  others. 

Awkward  Habits. 

Great  men,  sometimes  from  lack  of  self-confidence,  or 
from  nervousness,  fall  into  habits  in  society,  embarrassing 
to  themselves  and  ludicrous  to  others.  Neander,  the  famous 
church  historian  of  Germany,  could  not  lecture  to  his  stu- 
dents without  pens  on  his  desk  to  pull  to  pieces  while  he 
was  speaking.  If  the  pens  gave  out,  the  lecture  gave  out 
also. 

An  eminent  English  preacher  had  an  awkward  habit  in 
company  even  more  amusing.  "  He  is  very  eccentric," 
was  the  general  excuse  of  his  friends.  "If  excited  in 
conversation,  he  would  spring  up  in  the  midst  of  his  talk, 
twirl  himself  rapidly  round  three  times,  and  sit  down 
again  without  pausing  in  what  he  was  saying,  as  if  some 
external  action  was  necessary  to  let  off  the  force  of  his 


GRACEFULNESS.  (53 


excitement.  After  dinner  at  the  houses  of  his  intimate 
friends  he  would  rush  up  and  down  the  room  in  the  vehe- 
mence of  his  spirits,  and  then  cast  himself  on  a  sofa  and 
throw  up  his  legs  in  the  air."  These  were  strange  antics 
for  one  of  gentle  birth,  and  accustomed  from  childhood  to 
the  best  society. 

228.  Relate  the  awkward  habits  above  alluded  to. 

229.  Is  it  a  good  excuse  for  awkwardness  to  say  that  a 
man  is  ignorant  of  the  rules  of  good  breeding? 

230.  What  are  some  of  the  rules  for  standing  gracefully  ? 
1st.  We  should  stand  erect  on  both  feet. 

2d.  With  head  up,  and  chin  in  towards  the  chest. 
3d.  With  shoulders  back. 

231.  What  is  an  ungraceful  manner  of  standing? 

1st.  With  lounging  manner,  leaning  against  the  wall  or 
door. 

2d.  With  stooping  shoulders. 

3d.  With  hands  in  the  pockets. 

4th.  With  one  foot  upon  the  other,  or  in  the  seat,  or 
upon  the  rung  of  a  chair. 

WALKING  GRACEFULLY. 

232.  What  are  some  of  the  rules  for  walking  gracefully  ? 
1st.  Head  erect,  and  chin  drawn  in  toward  the  chest. 
2d.  Shoulders  back  ;  hands  out  of  the  pockets. 

3d.  Feet  turned  out,  with  step  not  too  long  or  too  short. 

233.  How  shall  we  walk  in  company? 

We  should  keep  step  together  and  not  jostle  each  other. 

SITTING   GRACEFULLY. 

234.  Give  some  of  the  rules  for  sitting  politely. 

1st.  We  should  sit  erect,  without  lounging  or  appearing: 
to  be  tired,  weak,  or  disrespectful. 


64  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

2d.  The  feet  should  never  be  placed  upon  a  chair  OP 
table,  or  against  the  wall. 

3d.  The  feet  should  not  be  twisted  among  the  rungs  of 
the  chair. 

4th.  The  feet  should  be  placed  in  front  of  the  seat,  but 
not  in  such  a  way  as  to  attract  notice. 

5th.  The  head  should  not  be  leaned  against  the  wall,  as 
it  may  soil  the  paper. 

235.  How  should  the  chair  be  used  ? 

It  should  stand  upon  its  four  legs,  and  not  be  tilted  or 
leaned  against  the  furniture  or  wall. 


THE  AGREEABLE  COUNTENANCE. 

236.  Is  a  pretty  face  always  a  pleasing  one  ? 

A  pretty  face  may  not  be  a  pleasing  one  unless  it  appears 
kind  and  gentle. 

237.  What  is  the  difference  in  expression  between  the 
countenances  of  a  bull-dog  and  a  spaniel  ? 

238.  What  is  the  difference  in  character  ? 

239.  May  the  same  difference  be  seen  in  human  faces  ? 

An  Ugly  Face — But  I 

The  following  story  is  told  of  the  Duchess  de  Berri : 
She  was  extremely  fond  of  Dieppe,  and  passed  a  great 
deal  of  her  time  there  in  summer;  indeed,  it  is  said  that 
the  town  owes  to  her  fostering  patronage  the  establishment 
of  the  workshops  for  the  production  of  those  exquisite  ivory 
carvings  which  are  well  known  to  every  stranger  that  has 
visited  Dieppe. 

One  summer  evening  a  fisherman  met  a  plainly-dressed 
lady  walking  alone  on  the  beach.  He  ventured  to  accost 
her,  saying  that  he  had  a  petition  which  he  wished  to  pre- 


GRACEFULNESS.  65 


sent  to  the  Duchess  de  Berri,  but  that  he  did  not  know 
how  to  proceed  in  order  to  do  so. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  the  duchess  ?"  asked  the  lady. 

"  No/7  was  the  answer ;  "  but  I  am  told  that  she  is  very 
ugly." 

"  Give  me  the  petition  at  all  events,"  said  the  questioner, 
"  and  it  shall  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  princess  herself." 

The  fisherman  complied  with  the  request,  and  a  few  days 
later  he  was  summoned  to  the  villa  of  the  duchess.  What 
was  his  dismay,  on  being  introduced  to  the  presence  of  the 
princess,  to  find  that  she  was  the  person  to  whom  he  had 
given  his  petition !  He  commenced  to  stammer  forth  some 
incoherent  excuse,  but  Marie  Caroline  interrupted  him. 

"Your  petition  is  granted,"  she  said,  smiling;  "and 
henceforth,  when  people  say  that  the  Duchess  de  Berri  has 
an  ugly  face,  do  you  add,  l  but  she  has  also  a  kind  heart/  " 

240.  Relate  the  story  of  the  Duchess  de  Berri. 

241.  May  we  always  judge  of  the  character  by  the  face? 

242.  May  our  habits  of  mind  affect  the  face? 

Yes ;  a  bull-dog  temper  has  generally  a  bull-dog  expres- 
sion. 

243.  How  do  some  people  train  their  faces  ? 

1st.  Some  scowl  and  frown  so  much  that  their  faces 
become  ugly  by  habit. 

2d.  Some  laugh  and  simper  until  their  faces  appear  as 
silly  as  their  minds  are  vacant. 

244.  How  may  children  learn  to  appear  agreeable? 

By  always  trying  to  preserve  a  kind,  gentle  countenance, 
at  home  and  at  school. 


66  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


HABITS  OF  MIND, 

245.  What  must  be  the  habits  of  a  really  good  man  ? 
'     The  moral  law  says  he  should  be,  "  First  Pure  ;  then 
Peaceable  ;   Gentle  and  Easy  to  be  entreated  ;  Full  of  mercy 
and  good  fruits  ;  without  Partiality,  and  without  Hypoc- 


FIKST   PURE. 

246.  What  is  meant  when  we  speak  of  a  "  good-hearted" 
person  ? 

247.  What  is  meant  when  it  is  said  a  person  has  a  "  pure 
heart"? 

248.  What  blessing  is  promised  the  pure  in  heart  ? 
The  moral  law  says,  "  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for 

they  shall  see  God." 

249.  How  may  we  become  impure  in  heart? 
1st.  By  thinking  about  impure  things. 

2d.  By  keeping  company  with  impure  people. 
3d.  By  hearing  or  using  impure,  vulgar  language. 
4th.  By  listening  to  and  enjoying  vulgar  jokes. 
5th.  By  reading  vicious  books  and  papers. 
6th.  By  seeing  impure  pictures. 

250.  How  do  such  things  affect  the  heart? 

The  moral  law  says,  "  Evil  communications  corrupt 
good  manners." 

Mischief  of  Bad  Pictures. 

Bad  books  may  poison  more  deeply,  but  they  cannot  poi- 
son so  quickly  as  bad  pictures.  The  chaplain  of  Newgate 
prison,  in  London,  speaking  in  regard  to  sensational  pictures 
of  crime,  expresses  the  very  decided  opinion  that  wood-cuts 
describing  murders  and  other  horrors  should  be  forbidden 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  67 

by  law.  They  propagate  crime  and  encourage  murder.  He 
confirms  this  position  by  this  incident  in  the  recent  history 
of  the  prison : 

A  soldier  shot  his  corporal,  and  several  military  murders 
and  attempts  to  murder  followed  in  rapid  succession.  After 
the  commission  of  one  of  these  murders,  the  perpetrator,  a 
private  soldier,  named  Taylor,  was  brought  to  Newgate  for 
trial  while  the  first  Aldershot  murderer  was  there.  Tay- 
lor was  under  arrest  for  breaking  barracks,  when  one  of 
those  newspapers  which  sensationally  illustrate  crime  was 
brought  into  the  guard-room,  with  a  vivid  picture  of  the 
Aldershot  crime. 

Taylor  could  not  read,  but  he  looked  at  the  picture,  and 
his  imagination  became  fascinated  and  possessed  with  the 
crime.  On  the  very  next  day,  during  punishment  drill, 
his  corporal  offended  him,  and  he  shot  him  dead.  "  That 
picture,"  said  he,  "  put  it  into  my  head." 

This  is  the  history  of  a  good  deal  of  crime.  Sensational 
pictures  of  criminal  tragedies  lay  hold  of  the  imagination, 
are  dwelt  upon,  reverted  to  and  revived  in  fancy,  till  the 
weak  mind  is  fascinated,  like  a  poor  bird  by  the  eye  of  the 
rattlesnake,  and  then  only  the  opportunity  is  wanting  to 
reproduce  the  crime  itself  and  make  the  criminal. 

251.  Relate  the  story  of  Taylor  and  the  picture. 

252.  How  do  people  become  criminals  ? 
By  criminal  thoughts  and  communications. 

• 

A  Boy's  Career. 

The  reading  of  a  single  bad  book  has  undoubtedly 
decided  the  destiny  of  many  a  boy  forever.  Circumstances 
indicate  that  the  tragic  end  of  young  Philip  Spencer, 
one  of  the  alleged  mutineers  of  the  United  States  brig 
u  Somers,"  was  traceable  to  such  a  beginning. 


68     .  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

If  there  is  reason  in  the  saying  that  he  is  to  be  pitied 
who  grows  up  without  knowing  the  advantage  of  poverty, 
Philip  Spencer  is  to  be  pitied.  He  never  knew  a  neces- 
sary self-denial.  His  family  was  rich  and  fashionable ;  his 
father  was  a  busy  public  man  of  great  political  eminence, 
and  little  pains  or  watchfulness  was  given  to  the  moral 
training  of  the  active  boy.  He  did  what  he  liked,  and 
had  what  he  liked,  and  from  the  time  he  was  old  enough 
to  interest  himself  in  books,  he  read  what  he  liked. 

Kept  at  school  almost  from  infancy,  he  entered  college 
at  an  age  when  most  boys  are  just  beginning  their  prepara- 
tory studies.  There  his  unformed  character  rapidly  devel- 
oped the  fruits  of  parental  neglect  and  loose  example. 

Accustomed  to  wine  at  his  father's  table,  and  indulged 
with  all  kinds  of  unhealthy  mental  stimulants,  he  spent  a 
large  part  of  his  time  in  social  or  solitary  dissipation,  and, 
though  plentifully  supplied  with  money  from  home,  his 
continual  waste  and  want  of  it  led  him  more  than  once  to 
obtain  it  of  friends  by  false  pretences. 

His  favorite  volume  was  "  The  Pirate's  Own  Book." 
Its  narratives  of  wild  adventure  captivated  his  young 
fancy,  and  its  bloody  details  of  roving  violence  and  lawless 
daring  held  his  mind  with  a  fatal  fascination. 

His  whole  life  and  behavior  took  the  complexion  of  his 
reading,  and  when  his  short  and  profitless  college  course 
came  suddenly  to  an  end,  he  went  to  sea. 

His  father,  being  then  Secretary  of  War,  procured  him 
a  midshipman's  berth  in  the  navy.  But  his  restless  spirit 
could  not  bear  discipline. 

Evidence  soon  appeared  that  the  young  man  was  fo- 
menting mutiny.  A  list  of  names  written  in  Greek  letters 
was  found  upon  him,  which,  with  some  further  suspicious 
discoveries,  served  to  convict  him  and  several  others  of 
plotting  to  seize  the  ship  and  commence  a  career  of  piracy. 


HABITS   OF  MIND.  69 

The  vicious  longings  begotten  in  the  boy  from  the  ex- 
citing stories  of  the  "Pirate's  Own  Book"  had  almost 
been  realized.  He  and  his  confederates  were  court-mar- 
tialled  and  condemned  to  die.  When  told  his  sentence, 
Philip  at  first  could  not  believe  it ;  then  he  broke  down, 
and  cried,  "It  will  kill  my  mother!  It  will  kill  my 
mother !" 

He  spent  the  single  hour  of  life  allowed  to  him  in  perus- 
ing the  prayer-book.  What  would  he  not  have  given  then 
for  the  uncorrupted  and  peaceful  mind  that  habits  of  pure 
reading  and  of  pious  thought  bestow  ? 

We  drop  a  tear  over  the  fate  of  Philip  Spencer,  hung, 
at  the  age  of  nineteen,  at  the  yard-arm  of  a  man-of-war. 

253.  Kelate  the  story  of  Philip  Spencer. 

254.  What   were   the  special   causes   that  led  to  the. 
mutiny  ? 

255.  How  should  a  pure-minded  person  act  when  he 
hears  impure  language? 

256.  How  should  a  pure-minded  person  act  when  he  is 
shown  improper  books  or  pictures? 

The  four  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

257.  Do  you  read  books  or  papers  filled  with  stories  of 
murder  and  outrage  ? 

258.  Do  you  like  to  hear  dreadful  stories  of  crime? 

259.  Do  you  like  to  see  pictures  of  vice  or  crime? 

260.  Do  you  read  books  or  papers  that  you  would  be 
unwilling  your  parents  should  see  in  your  hand? 

261.  What  kind  of  company  should  we  keep  if  we  wish 
to  be  pure  in  heart? 

PEACEABLE. 

262.  What  is  meant  by  being  peaceable  ? 

263.  How  many  does  it  take  to  make  a  quarrel  ? 


70  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


"  Where  one  will  not,  two  cannot  make  a  quarrel." 

264.  May  a  peaceable  person  be  brave  ? 

Yes.  A  brave  man  never  seeks  a  quarrel ;  the  bravest 
are  the  most  peaceable. 

265.  Is  it  the  sign  of  bravery  to  risk  unnecessary  danger  ? 

" His  Passionate  Temper" 

A  lady  visiting  the  Brooklyn  prison  on  Sunday  thus 
wrote  of  one  of  the  prisoners  who  is  in  confinement  for  the 
crime  of  manslaughter.  The  story  shows  the  folly  and  the 
danger  of  passionate  men  carrying  concealed  weapons.  She 
was  accompanied  by  the  chief  of  police. 

" '  Do  you  see  that  short  man,  the  third  in  the  first  row?' 
he  asked. 

"  Yes,  I  managed  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  a  handsome  face, 
and  but  a  glimpse,  for  I  cannot  but  fear  that  these  men  are 
some  of  them  sensitive  to  the  glance  of  a  stranger. 

" '  He  is  a  member  of  one  of  the  best  families,  as  tradi- 
tion goes,  and  not  very  many  years  ago  was  doing  a  good 
business  in  one  of  the  finest  of  our  Southern  cities.  One 
evening  he  got  into  a  dispute  with  his  father-in-law,  a  chol- 
eric old  gentleman ;  words  ran  high,  retorts  were  bandied 
between  them,  and  in  one  moment  of  high  passion  the  young 
man  took  out  a  revolver  and  shot  at  the  old  captain.  Well 
for  him  that  the  wound  was  not  a  mortal  one/ 

"  After  service  I  had  a  talk  with  this  man  who  offered 
the  strange  anomaly,  in  his  disgraceful  stripes,  of  a  gentle- 
man in  prison.  Fluent,  handsome,  graceful,  he  won  the 
attention  at  once.  He  said  his  business  house  used  to  be  on 
Street,  Baltimore. 

" '  Then  perhaps  you  knew  my  brothers,  who  are  both  in 
business  on  that  street?' 

"  <  What,  Charley  and  Ben  !     Well,  I  reckon  I  did,— 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  71 


saw  them  every  day,  was  as  intimate  with  them  as  with  any 
of  my  friends/ 

" '  How  long  do  you  stay  here  ?'  asked  my  friend. 

" '  Well,  if  I'm  not  pardoned  out — and  my  people  are 
working  hard  for  me — I  must  remain  three  years  longer. 
This  is  my  wife/  And  we  were  introduced  to  a  small,  lady- 
like woman  with  beautiful  eyes,  though  they  looked  as  if 
they  had  shed  many  and  many  a  tear.  I  sat  down  by  her 
side.  It  was  my  first  experience  of  the  kind. 

" '  Your  husband  don't  look  as  if  he  ought  to  be  here,'  I 


"  She  shook  her  head.  '  He  never  would  have  been  but 
for  his  passionate  temper,'  she  made  sad  reply.  '  He  was 
brought  up  in  luxury,  an  only  son.  He  was  very  wild,  and 
only  eighteen  when  we  were  married.  I  was  but  sixteen/ 

"When  I  expressed  surprise  at  this  information,  she 
replied, — 

" '  Yes,  I  see  it  all  now.  It  was  unwise  to  marry  so  early, 
and  I  ought  to  have  known  that  if  he  could  not  govern  his 
temper  then,  as  he  could  not,  our  married  life  would  not  be 
a  happy  one.  But  oh  !' — and  tears  came  into  her  earnest, 
dark  eyes, — '  if  he  is  only  a  changed  man,  as  I  hope,  I  shall 
never  regret,  all  my  life,  that  he  has  been  in  prison,  hard  as 
it  is.  I  have  a  sweet  little  girl,  four  years  old.  Imagine 
if  you  can  how  terrible  it  must  be  to  bring  her  to  this  place 
to  see  her  papa/ 

"  I  could  fancy  that  it  must  be  heart-breaking ;  and  I 
thought  I  could  trace  back  all  this  misery  to  the  first  few 
words  she  had  said,  '  He  was  a  spoiled  child/  n 

266.  Relate  the  story  of  "  His  Passionate  Temper." 

267.  Are  passionate  people  likely  to  be  peaceable? 

268.  Do  peaceable  people  generally  need  to  carry  weap- 
ons? 


72  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

269.  What  kind  of  people  usually  carry  weapons? 
Generally  those  who  easily  take  or  give  offence. 

270.  How  may  passionate  persons  become  peaceable  ? 
By  trying  to  subdue  their  passionate  habit. 

How  He  Did  It. 

There  is  enough  for  a  volume  or  a  sermon  in  the  follow- 
ing little  incident,  and  we  earnestly  commend  it  to  all 
afflicted  with  a  bad  temper : 

A  merchant  in  London  had  a  dispute  with  a  Quaker  re- 
specting the  settlement  of  an  account.  The  merchant  was 
determined  to  bring  the  question  into  court,  a  proceeding  to 
which  the  Quaker  objected.  Desiring  to  make  a  last  effort, 
the  Quaker  called  at  his  office  one  morning,  and  inquired 
of  the  servant  if  his  master  was  at  home.  The  merchant, 
hearing  the  inquiry  and  knowing  the  voice,  called  aloud 
from  the  top  of  the  stairs, — 

"  Tell  that  rascal  that  I  am  not  at  home !" 

The  Quaker,  looking  up  toward  him,  calmly  said, 
"  Well,  friend,  God  put  thee  in  a  better  mind." 

The  merchant  was  struck  with  the  meekness  of  this  reply, 
and  having  more  deliberately  investigated  the  matter,  be- 
came convinced  that  the  Quaker  was  right  and  he  in  the 
wrong.  He  requested  to  see  him,  and  after  acknowledging 
his  error,  he  said, — 

"  I  have  one  question  to  ask  you, — how  were  you  able 
with  such  patience,  on  various  occasions,  to  bear  my  abuse  ?" 

"  Friend,"  replied  the  Quaker,  "  I  will  tell  thee.  I  was 
naturally  as  hot  and  violent  as  thou  art.  I  knew  that  to 
indulge  this  temper  was  sinful,  and  I  found  that  it  was  im- 
prudent. I  observed  that  men  in  a  passion  often  speak 
loud,  and  I  thought  that  if  I  could  control  my  voice  I 
should  repress  my  passion.  I  have  therefore  made  it  a  rule 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  73 

never  to  suffer  my  voice  to  rise  above  a  certain  key,  and  by 
a  careful  observation  of  this  rule  I  have  entirely  mastered 
my  natural  temper." 

271.  Relate  the  story  of  the  cure  of  the  bad  temper. 

272.  Which  of  the  two  men  showed  the  better  spirit? 

A  Cure  for  Loss  of  Temper. 

When  M.  de  Persigny  (pronounced  Perseen'ye)  was 
French  Minister  Df  the  Interior,  he  received  a  visit  one  day 
from  a  friend,  who,  on  sending  up  his  name,  was  shown  into 
the  great  man's  sanctum.  A  warm  discussion  arose  between 
them.  Suddenly  an  usher  entered  and  handed  the  minis- 
ter a  note.  On  opening  it,  he  at  once  changed  his  tone  of 
voice,  and  assumed  a  quiet  and  urbane  manner.  Puzzled 
at  the  contents  of  the  note,  and  the  marked  effect  it  had 
on  the  minister,  his  friend  cast  a  furtive  glance  at  it,  and 
perceived  that  it  was  simply  a  blank  sheet  of  paper,  with- 
out even  a  scratch  upon  it.  When  the  interview  was  ended, 
and  he  returned  to  the  anteroom,  he  interrogated  the  usher 
as  to  the  meaning  of  the  note.  The  usher  replied,— 

"  I  will  tell  you,  but  you  must  keep  it  a  profound  secret. 
The  minister  has  naturally  a  quick  temper,  and  when  he 
becomes  excited,  wishes  me  to  remind  him  of  it.  Hearing 
his  voice  just  now  out  here  in  the  anteroom,  I  wrapped 
up  a  sheet  of  paper  and  took  it  in,  thus  firing  off  a  blank 
shot  as  a  note  of  warning." 

273.  Relate  the  story  of  the  French  minister. 

274.  Why  did  the  minister  need  some  one  to  help  him 
to  cure  his  hasty  temper? 

275.  Is  a  peaceable  man  necessarily  a  coward  ? 

276.  How  many  kinds  of  courage  are  there? 


74  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

There  are  two  kinds,  "  moral  courage"  and  "  brute  cour- 
age." 

277.  What  is  meant  by  "  moral  courage"  ? 

It  means  that  kind  of  courage  which  makes  a  person 
always  dare  to  do  right. 

278.  What  is  the  only  thing  a  really  brave  man  fears? 
He  fears  to  do  wrong. 

A  Brave  Act. 

The  quiet  heroism  of  facing  danger  merely  to  do  good 
earns  fame  for  the  hero  all  the  more  as  he  does  not  ask  it, 
nor  even  make  himself  known.  In  describing  the  fire  of 
1811  in  New  York,  the  Post  of  that  city  says: 

"  The  lofty  spires  near  by  of  the  '  Brick  Meeting,'  <  St. 
Paul's/  and  'St.  George's  Chapel,'  enveloped  in  the 
rapidly  passing  embers,  soon  became  the  special  objects  of 
watchfulness  and  anxiety.  Thousands  of  uplifted  eyes, 
and  we  doubt  not  prayers,  were  directed  toward  these  holy 
tabernacles,  now  threatened  with  speedy  destruction.  And 
there  was  cause  for  fear.  Near  the  ball  at  the  top  of  the 
'  Brick  Church'  a  blazing  spot  was  seen  outside,  and 
apparently  not  larger  than  a  man's  head.  Instantly  a 
thrill  of  fear  evidently  ran  through  the  bosoms  of  thou- 
sands crowding  the  park  and  the  wide  area  of  Chatham 
Street. 

"'What  can  we  do?'  was  the  universal  question. 
'  What  in  the  world  can  be  done  ?'  was  in  everybody's 
mouth. 

"  The  kindling  spot  could  not  be  reached  from  the  inside 
of  the  tall  steeple,  nor  by  ladders  outside,  neither  could 
any  fire-engine,  however  powerful,  force  the  water  to  that 
lofty  height.  With  the  deepest  anxiety,  fear,  and  trem- 
bling, all  faces  were  turned  in  that  direction. 

"  At  this  moment  of  alarm  and  dread,  a  sailor  appeared 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  75 

on  the  roof  of  the  church,  and  very  soon  was  seen  climb- 
ing up  the  steeple,  hand  over  hand,  by  the  lightning-rod, — 
yes,  by  the  rusty  slender  iron. 

"  Of  course  the  excitement  now  became  most  intense ;  and 
the  perilous  undertaking  of  the  daring  man  was  watched 
every  moment,  as  he  slowly,  step  by  step,  grasp  by  grasp, 
literally  crawled  upward  by  means  of  his  slim  conductor. 

"  Many  fears  were  expressed  among  the  immense  crowd, 
watching  every  inch  of  his  ascent,  for  there  was  no  resting- 
place  for  hands  and  feet,  and  he  must  hold  on  or  fall  and 
perish  ;  and  should  he  succeed  in  reaching  the  burning 
spot,  how  could  he  possibly  extinguish  it,  as  water,  neither 
by  hose  nor  buckets,  could  be  sent  to  his  assistance  ? 

" '  But  where  there  is  a  will  there  is  a  way/  says  the  old 
maxim,  and  it  was  at  this  fearful  crisis  he  reached  the 
kindling  spot,  and  firmly  grasping  the  lightning-rod  in  one 
hand,  with  the  other  he  removed  the  tarpaulin  hat  from 
his  head,  and  with  it,  literally,  blow  after  blow,  thick, 
strong,  and  unceasing,  extinguished  or  beat  out  the  fire. 
Shouts  of  joy  and  thanks  greeted  the  noble  fellow  as  he 
slowly  and  safely  descended  to  the  earth  again.  The  '  Old 
Brick'  was  thus  preserved  from  the  great  conflagration  of 
that  Sunday  morning.  Our  hero  quickly  disappeared  in 
the  crowd,  and  it  was  said  immediately  sailed  abroad,  with 
the  favorable  wind  then  blowing." 

279.  Relate  the  story  of  the  sailor's  saving  the  church. 

280.  What  is  meant  by  brute  courage  ? 

It  is  that  kind  which  is  able  to  bear  bodily  pain. 

281.  What  kind  of  courage  has  a  rooster  or  a  bull-dog? 

282.  Which  is  nobler,  moral  courage  or  brute  courage  ? 

283.  Why  has  a  dog  no  moral  courage  ? 
Because  he  does  not  know  right  from  wrong. 


76  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Humphry  Davy's  Bravery. 

Great  men  generally  have  the  moral  courage  which 
makes  them  brave  in  great  emergencies.  Sir  Humphry 
Davy,  the  great  English  chemist,  showed  this  true  courage 
under  trying  circumstances.  When  a  young  man,  he  was 
walking  through  the  streets  with  a  pet  dog,  named  Clo', 
by  his  side.  On  turning  a  corner  he  met  suddenly  a  mad 
dog,  with  a  crowd  of  men  and  boys  in  full  chase.  There 
was  no  chance  for  escape ;  but  if  he  had  been  willing  to 
sacrifice  his  pet,  the  mad  dog  would  no  doubt  have  seized 
and  killed  Clo',  leaving  him  unharmed.  But  Humphry 
instantly  caught  up  the  pet  in  his  arms,  and  looked  the 
furious  dog  steadily  in  the  face.  The  dog  caught  him  by 
the  leg,  tore  his  clothes,  bit  out  a  piece  of  the  flesh,  and 
dashed  madly  on.  The  crowd  were  shocked  at  the  torn  leg, 
covered  with  foam  from  the  dog's  jaws.  But  Humphry 
calmly  put  down  his  pet,  saying, — 

"  Well,  do',  you  are  safe,  whatever  becomes  of  your 
master,"  took  his  knife  from  his  pocket,  cut  out  from  the 
wound  the  flesh  covered  with  the  virus,  and  walked  quietly 
home.  Fortunately  he  suffered  no  harm,  but  his  cool 
courage  made  him  famous. 

284.  Eelate  the  story  of  Sir  Humphry  Davy. 

285.  What  kind  of  courage  did  he  exhibit  ? 

286.  May  not  brute  or  physical  courage  be  desirable  ? 

Being  Laughed  At. 

When  I  was  quite  young,  I  had  a  cast  in  my  eye,  that 
quite  disfigured  me,  but  I  so  dreaded  physical  pain  that 
neither  the  bribes  nor  entreaties  of  my  parents  could  pre- 
vail with  me  to  have  an  operation  performed.  But  on  my 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  77 

_____ ^_ L 

way  to  school  one  day,  I  overheard  two  of  my  school-mates 
making  fun  of  me  on  account  of  my  eye,  and  all  the  rest 
joined  in  the  laugh.  I  went  home  that  evening  fully  will- 
ing to  have  the  doctor  sent  for,  to  do  what  he  pleased  with 
my  eye ;  I  could  stand  anything  rather  than  be  laughed  at. 
If  your  fear  of  being  laughed  at  always  worked  out  as 
much  good  as  in  this  case,  it  would  be  a  very  wholesome 
feeling ;  but  the  fact  is  that  for  betraying  young  people  into 
evil  and  for  withholding  them  from  good,  there  is  nothing 
so  powerful  as  this  same  fear  of  being  laughed  at. 

287.  Relate  the  story  of  the  boy  who  was  afraid  of  being 
laughed  at. 

288.  What  kinds  of  cowardice  did  this  boy  show? 

289.  Which  is  the  worse,  the  fear  of  pain  or  the  fear  of 
being  laughed  at? 

290.  What  kind  of  courage  does  it  require  to  stand  being 
laughed  at? 

291.  Are  people  generally  laughed  at  for  doing  right? 
Not  generally,  but  sometimes  they  are. 

292.  Can  you  give  an  instance  in  school  where  any  one 
was  laughed  at  for  doing  right  ? 

A  Noble  Fisher-Boy. 

The  9th  of  October,  1877,  will  be  long  remembered  among 
the  Labrador  fishermen.  On  that  day  an  awful  hurricane 
raged  along  the  coast. 

One  of  the  fish  ing- vessels,  with  a  large  number  of  men, 
women,  and  children  on  board,  was  caught  in  the  storm, 
and  tried  hard  to  ride  out  the  hurricane.  After  a  few 
hours  of  fearful  suspense  she  dragged  her  anchors  and  was 
driven  ashore. 

With  great  difficulty  all  on  board  were  safely  landed. 
Drenched  with  rain,  blinded  by  the  snow-drifts,  shivering 


78  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

in  the  cutting  blasts,  they  found  themselves  on  an  uninhab- 
ited part  of  the  coast,  the  nearest  huts  being  nearly  five 
miles  distant. 

The  gloomy  night  closed  in  as  the  last  of  them  was 
dragged  ashore  from  the  wreck.  Their  only  hope  lay  in 
endeavoring  to  reach  the  distant  huts ;  and  in  the  darkness 
and  storm  they  staggered  on  through  the  trackless  wilder- 
ness. Who  can  picture  the  horrors  of  that  night  of  suffer- 
ing to  this  forlorn  band  ! 

When  the  morning  sun  shone  out  nineteen  of  them  lay 
dead  along  the  shore.  A  group  of  three  women  and  two 
children  clasped  in  one  another's  arms  and  half  buried  in 
mud  was  found,  all  stiff  and  stark  in  the  icy  embrace  of 
death. 

During  the  darkness  and  confusion  of  landing  a  family 
of  four  young  children  were  separated  from  their  parents, 
who  sought  for  them  in  vain,  and  at  length  gave  them  up 
for  lost. 

A  boy  of  fourteen,  hearing  the  cries  of  these  poor  little 
ones,  and  finding  they  had  no  guide  or  protector,  resolved 
to  do  what  he  could  to  save  their  lives.  To  reach  the  huts 
with  them  being  impossible,  he  made  the  shivering  children 
lie  down,  locked  in  each  other's  arms ;  then  he  set  to  work 
resolutely,  collecting  moss,  of  which,  fortunately,  there  was 
a  large  quantity  about,  and  piling  this  around  them,  layer 
upon  layer,  he  at  length  succeeded  in  excluding  partially 
the  piercing  cold. 

Fortunately,  too,  he  found  on  the  beach  the  fragment  of 
an  old  sail,  which  he  spread  over  all ;  and  collecting  more 
moss,  he  increased  the  rude  covering  until  the  poor  little 
sufferers  ceased  to  cry  with  the  bitter  cold,  and  declared 
themselves  more  comfortable. 

Through  all  the  dreary  hours  of  that  awful  night  that 
heroic  boy  stood  alone  by  these  children,  replacing  their 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  79 


covering  when  the  wind  scattered  it,  and  cheering  them 
with  words  of  hope.  He  might  have  tried  to  escape  with 
the  others,  but  he  would  not  leave  his  helpless  charge. 

At  length  day  dawned  ;  and  then  he  turned  his  tottering 
steps  towards  the  settlement  to  seek  for  aid.  When  about 
half-way  he  met  the  parents  of  the  lost  children,  wild  with 
grief,  coming  to  search  for  their  dead  bodies,  as  they  had  no 
expectation  of  finding  them  alive. 

The  young  hero  quietly  told  them  what  he  had  done  to 
save  them,  and  by  his  directions  they  soon  found  the  spot 
where  they  lay.  On  removing  the  covering  of  moss,  they 
found  the  little  creatures  snug  and  warm,  and  in  a  refresh- 
ing sleep. 

What  words  could  picture  the  wild  joy  of  father  and 
mother  at  that  sight !  But  alas  !  on  their  way  back,  near 
the  spot  where  they  had  parted  from  him,  they  found  the 
noble  boy  who  had  saved  their  children's  lives  at  the  ex- 
pense of  his  own  lying  dead.  Nature  was  exhausted  after 
the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  the  night,  and,  unable  to  reach 
the  friendly  shelter,  he  sank  down  and  expired. 

293.  Relate  the  story  of  the  fisher-boy. 

294.  What  kind  of  courage  did  he  possess  ? 

295.  Which  was  more  worthy  of  admiration,  the  sailoi* 
who  saved  the  children  or  the  one  who  saved  the  church  ? 

Why? 

The  Heroic  Young  Sailor. 

Among  many  instances  of  boy  heroism  on  the  sea  we 
have  found  none  more  beautiful  and  impressive  than  the 
following,  which  is  taken  from  the  account  given  by  a 
West  India  chaplain  of  the  Seamen's  Friend  Society  : 

"  I  must  tell  you  of  a  feat  performed  by  a  sailor-boy  in 
the  height  of  the  storm.  He  was  literally  a  boy,  and  far 
better  adapted  to  the  duties  of  the  school-room  than  furling 


80  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

a  sail  in  a  storm.  But  his  mother  was  a  widow ;  he  must 
earn  his  living,  and  where  better  than  at  sea  ? 

"  The  ship  was  rolling  fearfully.  Some  of  the  rigging 
got  foul  the  main-mast  head,  and  it  was  necessary  that  some 
one  should  go  up  and  fix  it  aright.  It  was  a  perilous 
undertaking. 

"  I  was  standing  near  the  mate,  when  I  heard  him  order 
the  boy  to  do  it. 

"  The  lad  lifted  his  cap,  and  glanced  at  the  swinging 
mast,  at  the  boiling,  wrathful  seas,  and  at  the  steady,  deter- 
mined countenance  of  the  mate.  He  hesitated  in  silence 
a  moment,  then  rushing  across  the  deck,  he  pitched  down 
into  the  forecastle. 

"  Perhaps  he  was  gone  two  minutes.  When  he  returned 
he  laid  his  hands  on  the  ratlines  and  went  up  with  a  will. 
My  eyes  followed  him  till  my  head  was  dizzy,  when  I 
turned  and  remonstrated  with  the  mate  for  sending  the  boy 
aloft. 

" '  Why  did  you  send  him  ?  he  cannot  come  down  alive.' 

" '  I  did  it/  replied  the  mate,  '  to  save  life.  We've  some- 
times lost  a  man  overboard,  but  never  a  boy.  See,  how  he 
holds  like  a  squirrel;  he  is  more  careful.  He  will  come 
down  safe,  I  hope.' 

"Again  I  looked,  till  tears  dimmed  my  eyes,  and  I  was 
compelled  to  turn  away,  expecting  every  moment  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  his  last  fall. 

"  In  about  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  he  came  down,  and 
straightening  himself  up  with  the  conscious  pride  of  having 
performed  a  manly  act,  he  walked  aft  with  a  smile  on  his 
countenance. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  day  I  took  occasion  to  speak  to 
him. 

" '  Why  did  you  hesitate  when  ordered  aloft?' 

" '  I  went,  sir,'  said  the  boy,  '  to  pray.' 


HABITS  OF  MIND.  81 

" '  Do  you  pray  ?' 

" '  Yes,  sir.  I  thought  that  I  might  not  come  down 
alive,  and  I  went  to  commit  my  soul  to  God/ 

"  l  Where  did  you  learn  to  pray  ?' 

" '  At  home.  My  mother  wanted  me  to  go  to  Sabbath- 
school,  and  my  teacher  urged  me  to  pray  to  God  to  keep 
me,  and  I  do/ 

" '  What  was  that  you  had  in  your  jacket  ?' 

" '  My  Testament,  which  my  teacher  gave  me.  I  thought 
if  I  did  perish  I  would  have  the  word  of  God  close  to  my 
heart/" 

Where  in  the  annals  of  heroism  do  we  find  anything 
more  noble  than  this  ? 

296.  Relate  the  story  of  the  heroic  young  sailor. 

297.  What  kinds  of  courage  did  he  possess  ? 

298.  Did  the  mate  do  right  to  order  him  aloft  ? 

299.  Did  the  boy  do  right  to  obey  orders  ? 

300.  Does  being  peaceable  prevent  a  person  from  being 
brave  and  manly  when  danger  is  to  be  met  and  overcome  ? 

THE   PEACE-MAKER. 

301.  Besides  being  peaceable,  what  else  does  the  moral 
law  require  ? 

It  requires  us  to  make  peace,  and  says,  "  Blessed  are  the 
peace-makers." 

302.  Do  peaceable  persons  urge  others  to  quarrel  ? 

303.  May  peaceable  persons  be  forced  into  a  quarrel.? 
Yes,  if  in  defence  of  themselves  or  their  friends  when 

attacked. 

304.  What  is  our  duty  when  we  see  others  quarrel  ? 
We  should  make  all  reasonable  efforts  to  make  peace. 

305.  When  should  we  be  willing  to   take   part  in  a 
quarrel  ? 


82  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Only  when  it  is  necessary  to  prevent  injury  to  those  who 
are  unable  to  defend  themselves. 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud : 

306.  Are  you  peaceable  or  passionate  ? 

307.  Can  you  control  your  temper  when  annoyed  ? 

308.  Are  you  a  peace-maker  at  home  and  at  school  ? 

309.  What  kind  of  courage  is  it  that  would  enable  you 
to  dare  to  leave  bad  company  ? 

310.  Have  you  the  moral  courage  to  dare  to  do  right 
when  you  are  laughed  at? 


GENTLE, 

311.  What  is  meant  by  being  gentle? 

312.  What  is  meant  by  the  term  Gentle-man? 

It  means  one  who  knows  and  practices  the  rules  of  polite- 
ness. 

313.  What  is  the  great  rule  of  politeness? 
See  question  No.  2. 

314.  What  is  meant  by  the  word  Lady? 

The  word  Lady  is  applied  in  this  country  to  a  woman  of 
refined  feelings  and  polite  manners. 

315.  What  should  be  the  characteristics  of  every  lady 
and  of  every  gentleman  ? 

See  question  No.  245. 

316.  How  do  gentlemen  and  gentlewomen — ladies,  al- 
ways behave  ? 

They  are  always  mindful  of  the  rights  and  feelings  of 
others. 

EAST  TO  BE  ENTEEATED, 

317.  What  is  meant  by  a  person  "  easy  to  be  entreated"  ? 
One  who  is  polite,  courteous,  easily  dealt  with. 


MERCIFUL.  83 


318.  What  would  you  say  of  those  who  are  not  "easy 
to  be  entreated"  ? 

Such  people  are  proud,  haughty,  and  cold  in  their 
manners. 

319.-  Are  children  always  easy  to  be  entreated? 

No.  Some  are  stubborn  and  self-willed,  and  refuse  to 
take  good  advice. 

The  two  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud  : 

320.  Are  you  easy  to  be  entreated,  or  proud,  stubborn, 
and  self-willed  ? 

321.  Are  you  willing  to  take  the  advice  of  your  parents, 
teachers,  and  older  friends  ? 


MEKOIFUL. 

322.  What  is  meant  by  a  person  "  full  of  mercy"  ? 

It  means  one  who  has  a  kind  heart,  who  is  unwilling  to 
give  unnecessary  pain  to  anything  living. 

323.  How  may  we  show  our  merciful  feelings? 
By  sympathy  and  relief,  if  possible. 

MERCY   TO   MANKIND. 

324.  How  shall  we  show  our  merciful  feelings  to  man- 
kind? 

1st.  By  helping  the  needy. 

2d.  By  relieving  and  helping  the  sick. 

3d.  By  sympathizing  with  those  who  are  in  distress. 

325.  How  should  we  feel  for  the  poor  and  the  needy  ? 
We  should  always  treat  them  as  we  would  wish  to  be 

treated  in  like  circumstances. 

326.  Are  people  always  to  blame  for  being  needy  ? 


84  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

No.     Some  are  unfortunate  and  should  be  pitied. 

327.  How  do  persons  become  unfortunate  and  poor  ? 
By  sickness,  by  loss  of  property,  or  by  accident. 

328.  Who  may  be  blamed  for  being  needy? 
They  who  are  lazy,  idle,  and  careless. 

The  Quaker's  Charity. 

A  certain  benevolent  Quaker  in  New  York  was  asked 
by  a  poor  man  for  money  as  charity,  or  for  work.  The 
Quaker  observed,  "Friend,  I  do  not  know  what  I  can 
give  thee  to  do.  Let  me  see ;  thou  mayst  take  my  wood 
that  is  in  the  yard  up-stairs,  and  I  will  give  thee  half  a 
dollar."  This  the  poor  man  was  glad  to  do,  and  the  job 
lasted  him  till  about  noon,  when  he  came  and  told  him  the 
work  was  done,  and  asked  him  if  he  had  any  more  to  do. 
"  Why,  friend,  let  me  consider,"  said  the  queer  Quaker. 
"Oh,  thou  mayst  take  the  wood  down  again,  and  I  will 
give  thee  another  half-dollar." 

329.  Relate  the  story  of  the  Quaker's  charity. 

330.  How  can  we  best  help  the  needy? 

By  giving  them  work  and  paying  them  for  their  labor. 

331.  Why  did  the  Quaker  have  the  man  carry  the  wood 
up-stairs  and  then  carry  it  down  again  ? 

He  wished  him  to  earn  the  dollar,  and  not  to  beg  it. 

332.  Do  persons  deserve  charity  who  can  work  but  who 
will  not? 

333. .  If  persons  are  willing  to  work  and  cannot  find  work 
to  do,  are  they  entitled  to  charity  ? 

Helping  a  Convict. 

Many  a  convict  after  getting  out  of  prison  would  lead  a 
respectable  life  if  he  could  only  begin  well.  But  people  are 
afraid  of  him,  and  won't  trust  him  or  give  him  employment, 


MERCIFUL.  85 


and  so  he  falls  into  roguery  again  to  make  out  a  living. 
The  late  Henry  Raymond,  of  the  New  York  Times,  made 
a  convict  honest  by  lending  him  ten  dollars. 

One  day,  while  busy  in  his  room,  there  appeared  to  him 
a  man,  saying, — 

"  Is  this  Mr.  Raymond  ?" 

Being  assured  of  this,  he  continued : 

"  Can  I  speak  to  you  a  few  moments,  sir  ?" 

The  manuscript  was  shoved  aside. 

UI  have  just  come  from  Sing  Sing,"  hesitated  the  man. 

"  Not  from  the  prison,  I  hope,"  said  the  editor,  by  the 
way  of  putting  the  caller  at  ease  with  a  joke. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  visitor ;  "  I  got  my  discharge  a  few 
days  ago." 

"  Well,  my  man,"  said  Mr.  Raymond, "  I  hope  you  were 
innocent." 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  the  convict,  •"  I  was  guilty.  You  see, 
sir,  I  am  an  engineer  and  machinist  by  trade.  I  want  to 
lead  an  honest  life,  and  when  I  got  a  place,  and  at  work  all 
very  well,  some  kind  friend  came  along  and  told  my  boss 
that  I  was  a  prison-bird,  and  I  had  to  be  out  of  that.  Then 
I  got  another  place  and  got  well  to  work,  and  the  same 
thing  happened  there.  Now  I  am  looking  for  another  job, 
and  I  am  going  to  begin  by  telling  what  I  am,  and  when  I 
get  anything  to  do  I  shaVt  lose  it  in  the  same  way." 

"  How  much  is  it,  my  man  ?"  said  Mr.  Raymond. 

"  Well,  sir,"  replied  the  man,  "  I  haven't  got  the  price 
of  a  dinner  about  me  now,  and  I  don't  know  where  I  am 
to  sleep  to-night.  I  think  if  I  had  ten  dollars  I  could  get 
on  until  I  found  somebody  to  take  me  for  what  I  am  worth, 
and  give  me  some  honest  work  to  do.  I  don't  want  to  go 
down-hill,  sir." 

The  ten  dollars  closed  that  conversation  on  the  instant. 
Perhaps  a  year  afterwards  Mr.  Raymond  was  at  a  fair  of 


86  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

the  American  Institute,  and  while  looking  at  some  ma- 
chinery on  exhibition  a  decent  man  in  charge  of  it  ap- 
proached him  and  said, — 

"Is  this  Mr.  Raymond?" 

"  Yes,"  he  replied ;  "  but  I  don't  remember  you." 

"  Don't  you  remember  the  man  from  Sing  Sing  ?" 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Raymond,  "  I  don't  remember  any  man 
from  Sing  Sing." 

"  Why,"  said  the  man  from  Sing  Sing,  "  don't  you  recol- 
lect ?"  And  then  he  rehearsed  the  story  here  set  down,  and 
said  he  had  subsisted  on  Mr.  Raymond's  loan  until  he  found 
employment  in  his  own  line  with  a  good  man,  who  knew 
his  story,  and  was  well  pleased  with  him,  giving  him  good 
wages  and  steady  work  in  a  place  of  honorable  trust  and 
responsibility.  Taking  a  bank-note  from  his  pocket  the 
engineer  repaid  the  borrowed  money,  saying  that  he  had 
carried  it  for  some  months  without  finding  an  opportunity 
to  leave  his  work  and  come  to  town  for  the  purpose. 

"  It's  a  good  ten  dollars,  Mr.  Raymond,  for  it's  just  the 
cost  of  saving  me  from  ruin." 

When  he  told  the  story  afterwards  Mr.  Raymond  thought 
it  was  cheap,  and  said  he  had  charged  all  his  other  loans  to 
the  account  of  the  engineer  and  balanced  it. 

334.  Relate  the  story  of  helping  a  convict. 

335.  Did  Mr.  Raymond  do  right  in  helping  a  convict? 

336.  Suppose  no  one  would  have  helped  the  convict  by 
giving  him  money  or  work,  what  would  have  happened  ? 

337.  What  should  be  done  for  the  deaf-mutes,  the  blind, 
the  insane,  the  homeless  orphan,  and  the  aged  poor? 

Schools  and  homes  should  be  mercifully  provided  for 
them. 

338.  Should  there  be  a  difference  in  the  treatment  of  the 
needy  on  account  of  race  or  color  ? 


MERCIFUL.  87 


339.  Should  money  be  given  as  charity  to  those  who 
will  spend  it  for  strong  drink  ? 

340.  What  rule  should  guide  us  in  all  our  dealings  with 
the  poor  and  unfortunate  ? 

MERCY  TO  CRIMINALS. 

341.  Why  are  prisons  built  and  persons  confined  in  them? 
Prisons  are  built  for  the  confinement  of  those  who  violate 

the  laws  of  the  State. 

342.  Why  should  law-breakers  be  confined  in  prison  ? 
1st.  To  punish  them  for  their  crimes. 

2d.  For  the  protection  of  society. 

3d.  In  the  hope  that  they  may  reform. 

343.  May  bad  men  be  reformed  ? 

Bad  men,  like  bad  boys,  may  change  their  bad  habits. 

344.  Are  bad  men  likely  to  reform  their  habits? 

The  longer  bad  habits  are  indulged  in  the  less  hope  there 
is  for  reformation,  but  it  is  never  too  late  to  mend. 

345.  Is  it  merciful  to  punish  a  man  by  depriving  him 
of  liberty  ? 

1st.  It  may  be  a  mercy  to  him  to  keep  him  out  of  mis- 
chief and  to  give  him  a  chance  to  reform. 

2d.  It  is  a  mercy  to  good  citizens  to  confine  those  who 
would  injure  their  persons  and  property. 

The  Convict  and  his  Cucumber-  Vine. 

There  is  always  some  good  left  in  human  nature. 
Keepers  of  penitentiaries  do  well  to  encourage  that, — as  we 
see  in  cases  like  this,  of  a  kind-hearted  convict  and  the 
indulgence  allowed  him  : 

A  pretty  prison  story  comes  from  Missouri,  where,  it 
appears,  a  prisoner  in  the  penitentiary,  too  weak  to  work, 
and  who  had  the  run  of  the  yard,  one  day  asked  the 


88  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

warden  if  he  could  be  allowed  to  cultivate  a  small  corner 
in  the  enclosure. 

"  What  do  you  want  to  raise  ?" 

"  Cucumbers,  sir." 

"  Why,  you  can't  raise  them  here ;  the  prisoners  would 
steal  them." 

"  No,  sir,"  said  the  man,  firmly,  "  they  will  not  steal  one 
of  them." 

"  Well,  go  ahead,"  said  the  warden ;  "  if  any  of  the  cu- 
cumbers are  stolen,  don't  come  to  me  with  your  complaints." 

"  You  will  never  hear  from  me  on  that  score,  sir." 

The  cucumbers  were  planted,  watered,  trained,  and  cul- 
tivated, and  an  immense  crop  was  the  result.  At  last,  how- 
ever, as  the  fruit  grew,  it  disappeared,  and  the  warden  be- 
came convinced  that  the  owner  sold  it  for  liquor,  produce, 
or  some  other  contraband  article.  He  directed  the  man  to 
be  watched,  and  finally  he  was  detected  in  the  act  of  carry- 
ing his  cucumbers  to  the  hospital  and  giving  them  to  the 
poor  fellows  who  in  their  sickness  craved  them.  Not  one 
had  been  stolen. 

346.  Relate  the  story  of  the  convict  and  his  cucumber- 
vine. 

347.  Are  even  bad  men  entirely  lost  to  all  feelings  of 
kindness  and  mercy  ? 

348.  Is  it  safe  always  to  trust  bad  men  and  boys  upon 
their  promises  of  reform  ? 

It  is  not  safe  to  put  entire  trust  in  those  who  have  lost 
their  good  name. 

349.  Should  a  bad  boy  in  school  complain  if  he  is  not 
trusted  and  believed  ?     Why  ? 

MERCY  TO  ANIMALS. 

350.  For  what  purposes  is  it  right  for  us  to  use  animals  ? 


MERCIFUL.  89 


They  may  be  used  for  labor,  for  our  pleasure,  for  food, 
and  for  clothing. 

351.  Name  some  of  the  animals  used  in  various  parts  of 
the  world  for  labor. 

352.  Name  some  of  the  animals  in  different  parts  of  the 
world  that  contribute  to  man's  pleasure. 

353.  Name  some  that  are  used  for  food. 

354.  Name  some  that  are  used  to  supply  clothing  for 
man. 

How  the  Dumb  Creatures  loved  Him. 

A  French  writer  says  of  an  old  Bordeaux  (pronounced 
Bor'do)  sailor  of  sixty  years  ago : 

"  He  was  so  kind  to  dumb  creatures  that  I  have  known 
his  boat  was  coming  sometimes  through  seeing  the  pigeons 
start  off  seaward,  and  wheel  and  hover  around  her  till  she 
touched  the  landing  steps,  when,  almost  before  he  had 
stepped  on  shore,  they  would  perch  on  his  shoulders;  and 
then,  when  his  head  appeared  above  the  quay,  the  goat 
would  come  capering  down,  bleating.  Old  Tinker,  the 
donkey, — such  a  rascal  that  it  was  said  he  could  open  every 
gate  in  the  parish,  and  the  cattle  all  knew  it,  and  would 
follow  him,  and  he  had  to  be  tethered, — would,  as  the  old 
man  advanced,  whisk  his  tail,  prance,  throw  back  his  ears 
and  bray ;  and  the  very  pig,  which  was  often  let  loose  for 
a  run,  would  come  shambling  down,  and  grunt,  and  arch 
his  back  for  a  rub,  not  to  speak  of  the  tortoise,  which  would 
follow  him  about,  and  eat  out  of  his  and  no  other  hand." 

355.  Relate  the  story  of  the  Bordeaux  sailor  and  his  pets. 

356.  Why  did  the  animals  show  their  joy  at  his  coming  ? 

357.  What  qualities  of  heart  must  a  man  have  to  make 
the  animals  love  him  ? 


90  THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 


Kindness  to  the  Pony. 

The  Animal  World  gives  the  following  interesting  item 
in  relation  to  the  influence  which  habitual  kind  treatment 
has  over  animals : 

"  Walking  down  a  country  lane  the  other  morning,  I  heard 
a  gentle  whistle  behind  me,  and  almost  simultaneously  a 
shrill  neigh  burst  upon  my  ear  from  the  neighboring  field. 
Turning  round,  I  was  about  to  retrace  my  steps  towards  a 
man  whom  I  saw  standing  by  the  field  gate,  about  a  hun- 
dred yards  away,  and  whom  I  presumed  had  given  the  call, 
when  a  pony  dashed  past  me  at  a  full  gallop  on  the  oppo- 
site side  of  the  fence  towards  the  gate,  and  before  I  had 
gone  many  yards,  was  being  quietly  led  out  by  the  man. 
Feeling  interested,  not  to  say  delighted,  at  this  proof  of  the 
power  of  kindness, — for  such  I  had  no  doubt  was  the  cause 
of  this  ready  obedience, — I  questioned  the  man,  who,  seeing 
that  I  was  interested,  told  me  that,  having  been  accustomed 
to  groom  and  feed  the  animal,  he  was  in  the  habit  of  calling 
it  from  the  fields  by  the  peculiar  whistle  of  which  I  had 
just  now  seen  the  effect;  that  many  others  had  likewise 
tried  to  call  him,  but  always  signally  failed,  the  pony  taking 
not  the  slightest  heed  of  them.  He  acknowledged  that  it 
was  through  kindness  and  attention  alone  that  this  was 
gained.  In  his  absence  another  groom  having  to  catch  the 
pony  would  attempt  the  call,  but  whistle  and  chirp  as  he 
would,  it  was  no  use ;  he  was  always  obliged  to  enter  the 
field,  basket  in  hand,  and  so  lure  it  toward  the  halter." 

358.  Relate  how  the  man  treated  the  pony. 

359.  What  are  some  of  the  rules  for  the  merciful  treat- 
ment of  domestic  animals  ? 

1st.  They  should  be  well  fed  and  sheltered. 


MERCIFUL.  91 


2d.  They  should  not  be  overworked  or  strained  beyond 
their  strength. 

3d.  They  should  only  be  punished  when  they  need  it, 
and  never  when  their  owner  is  angry. 

4th.  They  should  never  be  kicked  or  struck  without  a 
reason. 

5th.  They  should  never  be  frightened  or  teased. 

360.  State  some  cases  where  you  have  seen  animals  abused. 

361.  What  effect  has  merciful,  humane  treatment  upon 
domestic  animals  ? 

362.  Does  it  make  any  difference  in  the  value  of  an  animal 
whether  it  has  been  treated  kindly  ?     Why  ? 

363.  Have  we  a  right  to  treat  animals  cruelly  ? 

We  have  no  right  to  cause  unnecessary  suffering  to  man 
or  beast. 

The  Mexican  and  his  Mule. 

The  average  Mexican  is  not  cruel  to  his  mule,  though  he 
keeps  him  on  a  rather  low  diet.  The  same  is  true  of  the 
Arab  with  his  camel.  Both  men  are  used  to  rough  fare 
and  coarse  food,  and  they  treat  their  dumb  servants  about 
as  well  as  they  treat  themselves. 

The  Mexican  (says  a  writer  in  the  Overland  Monthly) 
drives  his  beast  by  words  rather  than  by  the  whip,  and  a 
good  understanding  seems  to  exist  between  the  animal  and 
his  master.  I  one  day  witnessed  an  incident  illustrative  of 
this  fact. 

A  little  mule,  drawing  a  big  cart  loaded  with  boxes  of 
wine,  in  turning  the  corner  of  a  street  came  into  too  close 
quarters  with  a  post  placed  there  to  protect  the  sidewalk, 
and  brought  the  vehicle  to  a  sudden  stand. 

The  driver  instead  of  lashing  the  animal  and  cursing  him, 
as  is  too  often  the  case  in  San  Francisco,  in  the  most  uncon- 
cerned manner  took  out  a  cigarette,  lighted  it,  leaned  against 


92  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

the  nearest  door-post,  and  began  to  smoke,  in  the  intervals 
of  the  puffs  chaffing  his  donkey  and  laughing  good-hu- 
moredly  at  his  attempts  to  free  himself  from  his  position. 
J  should  translate  what  he  said  as  something  like, — 

"  You  are  a  pretty  fellow  !  A  nice  mess  you  are  in !  Don't 
ask  me  to  help  you ;  get  out  of  it  as  you  best  can ;  Fin  in 
no  hurry,"  etc.,  laughing  all  the  time  as  the  donkey  pulled 
and  pulled  about  enough  to  break  the  post  down. 

The  poor  little  animal  seemed  to  understand  all  that  was 
said  to  him,  and  cocked  his  ears  with  a  most  knowing  ex- 
pression, then  in  a  moment  lowering  them  suddenly  he 
seemed  to  comprehend  the  difficulty.  Forcing  his  cart 
backwards,  he  gave  a  sudden  turn,  pulled  himself  free  of 
the  post,  and  marched  triumphantly  on  with  his  load,  his 
master  shortly  following,  lighting  another  cigarette  and 
applauding  the  performance. 

I  applauded,  too,  and,  walking  over  to  the  driver,  ex- 
tended my  hand  to  him,  saying,  "  Bravo,  old  fellow !  That's 
better  than  beating  him." 

364.  Relate  how  the  Mexican  managed  his  mule. 

365.  How  do  savages  treat  their  domestic  animals  ? 
They  are  always  cruel  and  unmerciful. 

Rebuked  by  a  Lady. 

For  several  years  New  York  has  looked  well  after  the 
welfare  of  her  dumb  animals,  thanks  to  Mr.  Bergh.  Once, 
at  least,  a  female  helper  from  abroad  came  to  his  aid  in 
the  cause  of  mercy  where  he  and  his  men  were  not  for  the 
moment  at  hand.  The  Portsmouth  Journal  says : 

"A  large  and  powerful  horse,  harnessed  to  an  immense 
cart  loaded  with  ice,  upon  which  were  seated  three  men, 
was  seen  struggling  along  one  of  the  business  streets  of  New 
York  a  few  days  ago,  straining  every  nerve  to  draw  the 


MERCIFUL.  93 


heavy  burden.  Quite  a  crowd  of  idlers  were  following  to 
witness  the  efforts  of  the  noble  animal  to  perform  the  cruel 
task  imposed  upon  him  by  the  brutal  driver  and  his  unfeel- 
ing companions. 

"  The  horse  fell  to  his  knees  on  the  flag-stones  of  a  cross- 
walk over  which  he  could  not  drag  the  overloaded  cart. 
The  whip  of  the  driver  was  swung  aloft  to  descend  with  a 
stinging  cut  upon  the  flank  of  the  distressed  horse,  when 
the  crowd  opened  as  if  by  magic  to  a  graceful  lady,  whose 
resolute  '  Don't  you  strike  !'  stayed  the  cruel  arm  and  saved 
the  terrified  and  trembling  beast  from  the  torturing  lash. 

"  Then  with  flashing  eyes  and  a  calm  voice  she  ordered  the 
men  to  descend  and  lighten  the  load.  After  her  commands 
were  obeyed  the  lady  quietly  walked  away,  the  lookers-on 
respectfully  applauding  the  brave  act  of  the  fair  stranger." 

366.  Relate  the  story  about  the  merciful  lady. 

367.  Which  was  the  more  humane,  the  New  York  carter 
or  the  Mexican  with  his  mule  ? 

ANIMALS   FOR   FOOD. 

368.  How  should  domestic  animals  intended  for  food  be 
treated? 

1st.  They  should  not  be  overdriven. 

2d.  They  should  not  be  left  without  food  for  a  long  time 
before  they  are  killed. 

3d.  They  should  not  be  tied,  as  calves,  sheep,  and  chick- 
ens often  are,  as  it  stops  the  circulation  of  the  blood  and 
causes  them  great  pain. 

4th.  When  killed,  the  killing  should  be  done  with  as 
little  pain  to  the  animal  as  possible. 


94  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


Hunting  for  Sport. 

Shooting  harmless  birds  is  an  exercise  that  may  make 
some  boys  good  marksmen,  but  will  make  more  boys  hard- 
hearted. 

Almost  every  boy  who  goes  gunning,  if  he  can  find  noth- 
ing that  he  wants  to  bang  away  at,  considers  it  the  next 
best  thing  to  kill  a  few  woodpeckers.  They  look  so  funny, 
wrong  end  up  on  the  side  of  a  tree,  bobbing  and  whacking 
around  the  loose  bark,  that  the  temptation  is  strong,  and 
the  poor,  jolly  hammerer  has  no  friends,  so  bang!  and 
down  he  comes,  and  he  is  given  to  the  dog  to  play  with 
and  tear  to  pieces. 

That  poor  little  bird,  if  over  a  year  old,  has  killed  and 
eaten  many  hundred  thousands  of  bugs7  larvae,  in  the  form 
of  grubs  and  worms,  and  almost  every  one  of  a  kind  which 
is  injurious  to  vegetation.  The  cat-bird,  one  of  our  finest 
singers  and  a  bird  that  is  always  sociable  if  ever  permitted 
to  be  so,  eats  a  cherry  occasionally,  and  of  course  he  must 
be  banished  or  suffer  death.  He  pays  a  better  price  for 
every  cherry  he  eats  than  any  fruiterer  would  dare  demand 
in  the  market  in  the  worms  he  destroys,  and  throws  in  a 
complete  bird  opera  several  times  a  day  in  the  bargain. 

369.  Is  it  right  to  hunt  animals  merely  for  sport? 
No;  cruelty  is  never  justifiable;  the  merciful  are  never 

cruel. 

370.  When  is  it  justifiable  to  hunt  wild  animals? 
1st.  When  they  can  be  used  as  food. 

2d.  When  they  furnish  skins  or  feathers  for  clothing. 
3d.  When  they  are  injurious  to  man. 

371.  Name  animals  hunted  for  food ;  for  their  skins  ;  for 
their  plumage. 


MERCIFUL.  95 


372.  Name  some  animals  injurious  to  men  that  should 
be  killed. 

373.  Would  it  be  right  to  torture  or  worry  a  snake  when 
it  should  be  killed  ? 

Injurious  animals  should  be  killed,  but  it  is  cruel  to  tor- 
ture them. 

374.  Is  it  right  to  kill  little  birds  for  sport? 

375.  What  are  such  birds  good  for  ? 

376.  Is  it  necessary  to  kill  birds  in  order  to  learn  to 
shoot? 

377.  Is  pigeon-shooting  for  sport  a  merciful  enjoyment  ? 

378.  Should  we  blame  a  dog  for  chasing  the  chickens  ? 
No,  that  is  the  animal's  nature ;  but  he  may  be  trained 

not  to  do  it. 

379.  Is  it  merciful  to  punish  the  dog  for  chasing  the 
chickens  ? 

By  punishing  him  we  may  teach  him  to  let  the  chickens 
alone. 

380.  What  kind  of  a  spirit  does  it  show  when  boys  set 
dogs  or  other  animals  to  fighting  ? 

381.  What  must  be  the  mind  of  a  boy  who  throws  stones 
at  dogs,  cats,  and  chickens  for  sport  ? 

382.  What  should  be  said  of  boys  who  torture  or  frighten 
any  kind  of  harmless  animal  ? 

383.  Relate  the  character  of  a  cruel  boy.     See  question 
No.  60. 

384.  What  kind  of  spirit  does  it  show  when  big  boys 
set  little  boys  to  fighting  ? 

Robbing  a  Bird's- Nest. 

One  boy  has  suffered  by  attempting  to  rob  a  bird's-nest. 
He  lived  at  Bangalore,  India,  and  the  newspaper  of  that 
place  tells  the  story  : 

"A  European  lad  named  Green,  on  Sunday  last,  got  upon 


96  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

a  large  tree  on  the  other  side  of  the  railway  station  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  away  the  eggs,  as  he  supposed,  from  a 
nest  which  was  on  the  tree.  The  nest  being  a  little  too  high 
up  for  the  lad  to  look  into,  he,  from  a  lower  branch,  put  his 
hand  into  the  nest,  and  laid  hold  of  a  decent-sized  snake. 
Fancying  it  to  be  a  young  bird,  he  took  it  out,  and  on  find- 
ing what  he  had  laid  hold  of,  and  losing  his  balance,  fell 
to  the  ground  and  dislocated  his  right  arm." 

We  wish  every  boy  who  attempts  to  rob  a  bird's-nest  might 
find  a  snake  in  it. 

385.  Relate  the  story  of  robbing  a  bird's-nest. 

386.  Is  it  merciful  to  destroy  the  nests  of  harmless  birds  ? 

Taming  a  Squirrel. 

It  is  always  interesting  to  make  experiments  with  birds 
and  animals,  to  see  how  far  their  timidity  and  shyness  may 
be  overcome.  Shrewdness  and  perseverance  will  generally 
succeed.  Here  is  a  good  instance  of  it: 

One  day,  when  returning  from  the  meadow,  I  saw  a 
small  striped  squirrel  on  the  wall.  The  men  had  just  been 
talking  about  the  little  creatures,  telling  how  full  of  curiosity 
they  were,  how  they  would  pop  their  heads  out  of  their  hid- 
ing-place at  the  slightest  unusual  noise,  and  how  a  person 
might  approach  quite  near  to  them,  by  gently  tapping  on  a 
fence  or  a  wall  with  a  stone. 

Here  was  a  good  opportunity  to  try  the  experiment.  I 
picked  up  two  small  stones,  and  then  very  carefully  ap- 
proached the  squirrel,  who  seemed  to  be  waiting  to  see 
what  I  would  do. 

When  I  had  taken  a  few  steps  toward  him,  he  darted 
down  into  the  wall  with  a  chip-r-r,  as  if  to  say,  "  No,  you 
don't !" 

I  took  two  or  three  steps  more  toward  the  place  where 


MERCIFUL.  97 


he  had  been  sitting,  stood  perfectly  still  for  say  three  min- 
utes, and  then  began  to  tap  the  stones  together,  very  gently 
and  slowly. 

In  a  short  time,  up  came  the  little  head  out  of  the  wall. 
I  stopped  tapping,  and  very  carefully  took  a  step  or  two 
toward  the  little  fellow,  as  before.  I  had  now  got  within 
six  feet  of  him,  when  down  he  went  again  into  the  wall, 
and  out  of  sight. 

Immediately,  and  without  noise,  I  went  close  to  the  wall, 
and  lay  down  on  the  bank,  with  my  face  not  two  feet  from 
the  place  where  the  squirrel  had  been  sitting.  I  laid  sev- 
eral kernels  of  corn  upon  the  rock,  temptingly,  and  waited 
as  much  as  ten  minutes. 

After  a  while,  I  took  one  of  the  stones,  and  gave  three 
or  four  gentle  taps  upon  the  wall.  No  reply.  In  a  moment 
or  two  I  repeated  the  noise.  Presently,  I  heard  a  scratch- 
ing in  the  wall,  and  soon  up  came  the  little  head,  not  two 
feet  from  me.  I  wanted  to  scream  with  delight,  but  I 
did  not  mave  an  eyelid.  There  we  were,  the  squirrel  and 
myself,  looking  into  each  other's  faces  for  at  least  half  a 
minute.  I  could  see  the  little  fellow's  hurried  breathing 
distinctly. 

Once  he  gave  a  single  chip-r-r,  and  braced  his  feet  firmly 
on  the  rock,  as  if  ready  to  vanish  if  I  should  offer  any  war- 
like menace.  But  I  kept  perfectly  still.  And  after  another 
good,  long  stare,  the  squirrel  coolly  gathered  up  the  corn  I  had 
put  down,  and,  with  a  farewell  chip-r-r,  he  ran  into  the  wall. 

Of  course  I  was  delighted  with  my  experiment.  You 
may  be  sure  that  I  tried  it  the  next  day,  and  with  equal 
success.  Only  it  seemed  to  me  that  the  little  animal  showed 
less  fear.  Within  a  week,  I  could  plainly  see  that  lie  was 
growing  tame.  I  always  fed  him  at  the  same  place,  and 
about  the  same  time  of  day,  taking  good  care  that  the  dog 
was  not  visible,  and  no  one  about  but  myself. 


98  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Not  to  make  my  story  too  long,  it  will  suffice  to  say  that 
in  less  than  a  month  Tommy,  as  I  called  my  squirrel,  would 
actually  take  corn  from  my  hand.  But  it  was  not  corn  all 
the  time,  for  the  food  I  gave  him  was  varied  occasionally. 
Before  the  autumn  leaves  fell,  the  little  creature  would  go 
all  over  my  person  for  his  food,  and  even  down  into  the 
great  pockets  of  my  frock.  I  never  attempted  to  catch  him, 
being  sufficiently  interested  in  taming  him,  without  a  desire 
to  make  him  my  prisoner. 

387.  Relate  the  story  of  taming  a  squirrel. 

388.  Which  should  we  admire  the  more,  the  spirit  that 
would  rob  the  bird's-nest,  or  that  which  would  tame  the 
ground  squirrel? 

389.  Was  it  better  to  tame  the  squirrel  and  enjoy  its 
pretty  ways  or  to  kill  it? 

390.  Was  it  more  merciful  to  capture  the  squirrel  or  to 
have  it  enjoy  its  life  and  liberty? 

391.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  of  humanity  to  ani- 
mals? 

It  says,  "a  righteous  man  regard eth  the  life  of  his  beast, 
but  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel." 

The  three  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud : 

392.  Are  you  merciful  to  your  parents,  your  teachers, 
and  your  school-mates  ? 

393.  Are  you  merciful  to  all  the  domestic  animals  ? 

394.  Do  you  enjoy  the  killing  or  maiming  of  any  living 
thing  ? 


FRUITS  OP  GOOD  LIVING, 


395.  A  good  man  like  a  good  tree  may  be  known  in  what 

iy* 

By  his  fruit. 


way? 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  99 

396.  What  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  fruits  produced 
in  a  good  man's  life  ? 

Temperance  in  all  things. 

397.  What  is  meant  by  being  temperate  ? 

It  means  freedom  from  excess  in  speech,  food,  and  drink. 

398.  What  is  meant  by  intemperate  speech  ? 
Intemperate  speech  is  language  that  is  calculated  to  injure, 

to  excite,  or  to  mislead. 

399.  What  kind  of  speech  shall  we  call  the  terms  "  liar," 
"villain/' "thief,"  etc.? 

400.  What  is  meant  by  a  "  perfectly  splendid  copy-book," 
"an  awfully  horrid  bonnet,"  "  a  dreadful  nice  day"? 

401.  If  we  say  of  the  light  of  a  lamp  that  it  is  "  perfectly 
gorgeous,"  what  shall  we  say  of  a  brilliant  sunrise? 

402.  What  is  meant  by  "  being  almost  scared  to  death," 
being  "  pleased  to  death,"  or  being  "  utterly  exhausted"  ? 

403.  Is  the  above  language  temperate  or  intemperate  ? 
Why? 

404.  What  kinds  of  people  use  such  forms  of  speech  ? 
Either  those  who  are  ignorant  of  good  language  or  ex- 
tremely careless  in  what  they  say. 

405.  What  danger  is  there  in  forming  habits  of  intem- 
perate speech  ? 

Either  that  we  lose  the  credit  for  accuracy,  or  possibly 
for  truthfulness. 

TEMPERANCE   IN   FOOD. 

406.  What  is  an  intemperate  eater  called  ? 
An  intemperate  eater  is  called  a  glutton. 

407.  What  is  intemperance  in  eating  called? 
It  is  called  gluttony. 

408.  Why  is  gluttony  wrong? 
Because  it  is  injurious  to  health. 

409.  What  kinds  of  food  should  we  use? 


100  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Only  such  kinds  as  will  make  us  strong  and  healthy. 

410.  When  and  how  much  food  should  we  eat  ? 

We  should  eat  at  regular  times,  and  only  take  what  is 
good  for  health  and  comfort. 

411.  What  is  the  effect  of  intemperate  eating? 

It  often  produces  indigestion,  dyspepsia,  and  distress. 

412.  Are  children  ever  intemperate  in  eating,  especially 
at  school  ? 

TEMPERANCE   IN   DRINK. 

A  Good  Temperance  Story. 

We  fear  the  hotel  clerks  who  would  do  as  this  one  did 
are  not  in  the  majority.  The  witty  thoughtful  ness  of  the 
act  here  described  entitles  the  doer  to  be  called  more  than 
"  gentlemanly." 

About  a  year  ago,  eight  or  ten  lumbermen  went  into  a 
hotel  in  one  of  our  Western  cities  and  engaged  a  private 
parlor.  They  were  jolly,  well-to-do  fellows,  and  met  to 
settle  up  a  year's  business  over  a  social  glass,  having  had  a 
successful  speculation  together.  Summoning  the  gentle- 
manly clerk  of  the  house,  they  ordered  him  to  bring  in  the 
choicest  liquor  to  be  obtained, — "  nothing  but  the  purest 
and  finest  article." 

The  table  was  spread,  glasses  brought  out,  and  mirth  and 
jollity  prevailed.  Presently  in  came  the  clerk  with  a  silver 
pitcher  of  ice-water,  and  as  he  filled  each  goblet,  with  quiet 
dignity  and  not  a  smile  on  his  countenance,  he  remarked, 
"  Gentlemen,  I  have  done  the  best  I  could  to  obey  your 
order,  and  here  is  the  purest  article  to  be  found  in  the 
United  States."  They  were  equal  to  the  occasion.  Not  a 
word  was  said  till  each  had  his  glass  before  him,  filled  with 
the  sparkling  fluid.  Almost  simultaneously  they  all  raised 
their  glasses,  and  pledging  each  other's  health,  made  the 
additional  one  of  promising  not  to  drink  anything  stronger 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  ]Q1 

for  the  year  to  come.  Nearly  twelve  months  have  passed, 
and  they  have  been  loyal  to  their  vow.  May  we  not  hope 
that  the  pledge  may  be  renewed  for  life ! 

413.  Relate  the  story  of  the  temperate  lumbermen. 

414.  What  kinds  of  drink  should  we  use? 
Only  those  suited  to  promote  health  and  comfort. 

415.  Do  people  generally  become  intemperate  in  the  use 
of  water? 

416.  May  persons  become  intemperate  in  the  use  of  tea 
and  coffee  ? 

Some  people  do  use  these  drinks  intemperately. 

417.  What  effects  does  intemperance  in  the  use  of  tea 
and  coffee  sometimes  produce? 

Nervousness,  sleeplessness,  and  indigestion. 

418.  Name  some  of  the  drinks  that  produce  drunkenness. 

419.  What  are  some  of  the   reasons  why  persons   are 
advised  to  drink  strong  drink  ? 

Some  "for  sociability,"  some  "for  medicine,"  some  "to 
keep  out  the  cold,"  others  "  to  keep  out  the  heat,"  some  "  to 
give  them  strength." 

420.  What  was  the  custom  of  society  about  drinking 
strong  drink  a  hundred  years  ago? 

Drinking  strong  drink  was  more  common  then  than  now ; 
everybody  was  expected  to  drink  for  sociability. 

Refusing  to  Drink  Wine  with  Washington. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  says  Dr. 
Cox,  an  officer  in  the  army  had  occasion  to  transact  some 
business  with  General  Washington,  and  repaired  to  Phila- 
delphia for  that  purpose.  Before  leaving  he  received  an 
invitation  to  dine  with  the  general,  which  was  accepted,  and 
upon  entering  the  room  he  found  himself  in  the  company 
of  a  large  number  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  As  they  were 


102  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

mostly  strangers  to  him,  and  he  was  of  a  naturally  modest 
and  unassuming  disposition,  he  took  a  seat  near  the  foot  of 
the  table  and  refrained  from  taking  an  active  part  in  the 
conversation.  Just  before  the  dinner  was  concluded  General 
Washington  called  him  by  name,  and  requested  him  to  drink 
a  glass  of  wine  with  him. 

"  You  will  have  the  goodness  to  excuse  me,  general,"  was 
the  reply,  "  as  I  have  made  it  a  rule  not  to  take  wine." 

All  eyes  were  instantly  turned  upon  the  young  officer, 
and  a  murmur  of  surprise  and  horror  ran  around  the  room. 
That  a  person  should  be  so  unsocial  and  so  mean  as  to  never 
drink  wine  was  really  too  bad,  but  that  he  should  abstain 
from  it  on  an  occasion  like  that,  and  even  when  offered  to 
him  by  General  Washington  himself,  was  perfectly  intoler- 
able !  Washington  saw  at  once  the  feelings  of  his  guests, 
<md  promptly  addressed  them. 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  Mr.  is  right.  I  do  not 

wish  any  of  my  guests  to  partake  of  anything  against  their 
inclination,  and  I  certainly  do  not  wish  them  to  violate  any 
established  principle  in  their  social  intercourse  with  me.  I 

honor  Mr. for  his  frankness,  for  his  consistency  in 

thus  adhering  to  an  established  rule  which  can  never  do  him 
harm,  and  for  the  adoption  of  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  he 
has  good  and  sufficient  reasons." 

421.  Relate  the  story  of  Washington's  true  hospitality. 

422.  Was  General  Washington  polite? 

Yes;  according  to  the  custom  of  the  times  he  was  polite 
in  offering  to  drink  wine  with  his  guest,  and  he  was  equally 
polite  in  accepting  his  guest's  refusal  to  drink. 

423.  Is  it  well  for  persons  unaccustomed  to  strong  drink 
to  take  it  simply  for  sociability  ? 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  1Q3 

Mr.  Greeley  and  the  Brandy. 

The  following  amusing  anecdote  is  related  of  the  late 
Mr.  Greeley,  who  is  known  to  have  been  throughout  his 
life  a  stanch  advocate  of  temperance : 

Through  all  his  electioneering  campaign  he  sat  at  public 
dinners  and  suppers  where  wine  and  spirits  flowed  freely, 
but  he  never  passed  the  bottle  or  touched  the  liquor  himself. 
The  waiters  who  knew  his  temperance  principles  were  puz- 
zled what  to  do  when  they  came  to  the  row  of  glasses  front- 
ing his  plate.  Usually  they  were  directed  by  a  look  or 
gesture  of  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  to  pass  by  him  in 
silence,  but  on  one  occasion  an  Irish  waiter  would  not  abide 
such  an  apparent  breach  of  hospitality. 

"  Hadn't  ye  better  take  something,  sir,  to  get  up  an  appe- 
tite like,  after  your  long  ride,  sir  ?"  the  hospitable  Hiber- 
nian whispered  to  the  startled  sage.  "A  little  brandy  and 
wather  wad  do  ye  good, — it  wad,  upon  me  sowl,  sir." 

The  heartiness  of  the  appeal  touched  the  philosopher. 
He  recognized  the  ring  of  true  hospitality  in  its  tones,  and 
his  heart  relented  at  the  idea  of  depressing  such  sterling 
virtue  by  a  continued  refusal. 

"Brandy  and  water?"  said  he.  "Well,  Pat,  I'll  take 
half  that  to  oblige  you.  Give  me  the  water  and  let  some 
one  else  have  the  brandy." 

424.  Relate  the  story  of  Mr.  Greeley  and  the  Irishman. 

425.  Who  was  the  best  judge  whether  the  brandy  and 
water  would  do  him  good,  Mr.  Greeley  or  the  Irish  waiter  ? 

Strong  Drink  as  Medicine. 

Judge  P.  was  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Southern 
Indiana.  He  was  a  man  of  good  family,  of  fine  education, 
of  elevated  social  standing,  and  of  high  professional  char- 


104  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

acter.  His  fine  reputation  was  recognized  by  the  people  in 
making  him  their  representative  in  the  legislative  halls  of 
the  State.  His  professional  labors  were  very  arduous,  and 
threatened  to  impair  his  health.  Feeling  very  badly,  he 
called  on  his  old  family  physician,  Dr.  B.,  in  whom  he  had 
great  confidence,  and  asked  him  what  he  should  do  to  re- 
store his  accustomed  strength.  The  doctor  advised  him  to 
take  a  little  stimulant  every  day  in  the  form  of  brandy,  and 
thought  he  would  not  need  anything  more.  The  judge  conv 
menced  to  take  the  prescription  regularly.  Insensibly  the 
prescribed  dose  became  larger  and  more  frequent,  until  in 
the  course  of  several  months  it  became  evident  to  the 
judge's  friends  that  he  was  becoming  intemperate.  Before 
he  himself  was  aware  of  it  brandy-drinking  became  a  habit 
that  was  undermining  his  health,  distressing  his  family, 
alarming  his  friends,  and  impairing  his  standing  in  his  pro- 
fession and  in  society.  Gradually  he  sunk  lower  and  lower 
until  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  him  reeling  drunk  upon  the 
streets. 

Standing  in  company  with  some  gentlemen  on  the  street 
one  day,  with  whom  was  the  doctor  already  alluded  to,  the 
conversation  drifted  in  some  way  to  the  subject  of  medical 
prescriptions.  The  judge  expressed  great  distrust  of  the 
medical  profession,  "for,"  said  he,  "Dr.  B.  here  prescribed 
brandy  as  a  tonic  for  me,  and  I  guess  he  made  a  mistake." 

The  doctor  was  covered  with  confusion,  but  replied, — 

"  Yes,  judge,  I  prescribed  that  you  should  take  the  brandy 
as  a  medicine,  and  now  I  will  give  you  the  prescription  that 
you  take  it  no  longer." 

"  Oh,"  said  the  judge,  "  I  took  one  prescription  from  you, 
and  I  fear  it  is  too  late  to  take  another." 

426.  Eelate  the  story  of  Judge  P.  and  Dr.  B. 

427.  Why  did  Judge  P.  become  a  drunkard? 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  1Q5 

See  question  No.  45. 

428.  From  the  experience  of  Judge  P.,  is  it  safe  to 
indulge  in  strong  drink  as  a  medicine  ?  Why  ? 

Alcohol  and  Exposure. 

Dr.  Brunton,  an  English  physician,  says  that  when  men 
are  exposed  to  cold  for  a  long  time  the  drinking  of  spirits 
is  exceedingly  dangerous.  He  gives  these  illustrations  in 
support  of  his  opinion  : 

"My  friend,  Dr.  Payer,  told  me  that  when  crawling 
through  the  wet  heather  in  pursuit  of  deer  on  a  cold  day 
he  offered  the  keeper  who  accompanied  him  a  pull  from  his 
flask.  The  old  man  declined,  saying,  '  No,  thank  you ;  it 
is  too  cold.' 

"  The  lumberers  in  Canada  who  are  engaged  in  felling 
timber  in  the  pine  forests,  living  there  all  winter,  sleeping  in 
holes  dug  in  the  snow,  and  lying  on  spruce  branches  cov- 
ered with  buffalo -robes,  allow  no  spirits  in  their  camp,  and 
destroy  any  that  may  be  found  there. 

"  The  experience  of  Arctic  travellers  on  this  subject  is 
nearly  unanimous,  and  I  owe  to  my  friend,  Dr.  Milner 
Fothergill,  an  anecdote  which  illustrates  it  in  a  very  striking 
way  :  A  party  of  Americans  crossing  the  Sierra  Nevada  en- 
camped at  a  spot  above  the  snow-line,  and  in  an  exposed 
situation.  Some  of  them  took  a  good  deal  of  spirits  before 
going  to  sleep,  and  they  lay  down  warm  and  happy ;  some 
took  a  moderate  quantity,  and  they  lay  down  somewhat, 
but  not  very,  cold ;  others  took  none  at  all,  and  they  lay 
down  very  cold  and  miserable. 

"  Next  morning,  however,  those  who  had  taken  no  spirits 
got  up  feeling  quite  well,  those  who  had  taken  a  little  got 
up  feeling  cold  and  wretched,  and  those  who  had  taken  a 
good  deal  did  not  get  up  at  all, — they  had  perished  from 
cold  during  the  night.  Those  who  took  no  alcohol  kept 


106  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

their  heart  warm  at  the  expense  of  their  skin,  and  they  re- 
mained well ;  those  who  took  much  warmed  their  skin  at 
the  expense  of  their  heart,  and  died." 

429.  Relate  the  story  of  the  travellers  who  drank  spirits 
to  keep  out  the  cold. 

430.  Why  is  it  dangerous  to  drink  spirits  when  exposed 
to  the  cold  ? 

"  You  Tempted  Me." 

A  religious  lady  at  Edinburgh  was  sent  to  visit  a  woman 
who  was  dying  in  consequence  of  disease  brought  on  by 
habits  of  intemperance.  The  woman  had  formerly  been 
in  the  habit  of  washing  in  this  lady's  family,  and  when 
she  came  to  the  dying  woman  she  remonstrated  with  her 
on  the  folly  and  wickedness  of  her  conduct  in  giving  way 
to  so  dreadful  a  sin  as  intemperance.  The  dying  woman 
said, — 

"  You  have  been  the  author  of  my  intemperance." 

"What  did  you  say?"  exclaimed  the  lady,  with  pious 
horror.  "  I  the  author  of  your  intemperance?" 

"Yes,  ma'am;  I  never  drank  whiskey  until  I  came  to 
wash  in  your  family.  You  gave  me  some,  saying  it  would 
do  me  good.  I  felt  invigorated,  and  you  gave  me  some 
more.  When  I  was  at  other  houses,  not  so  hospitable  as 
yours,  I  purchased  a  little,  and  by  and  by  I  found  my  way 
to  the  dram-shop,  thinking  a  little  stimulant  was  necessary 
to  carry  me  through  my  hard  work.  And  so  by  degrees 
I  became  what  you  now  see  me." 

Conceive  what  this  lady  felt. 

431.  Relate  the  story  of  the  tempted  woman. 

432.  Do  people  who  drink  spirits  to  "keep  up  their 
strength"  expect  to  be  drunkards  ? 

433.  What  is  the  effect  of  spirits  on  the  strength  ? 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVIXQ.  107 

434.  Is  it  safe  to  prescribe  strong  drink  as  a  medicine  ? 
The  moral  law  says,  "  Woe  unto  him  that  giveth  his 

neighbor  drink,  that  puttest  thy  bottle  to  him,  and  makest 
him  drunken  also." 

"  Witt  you  Take  the  Expansibility  f 

Even  the  worst  of  men  would  shrink  from  tempting  a 
fellow-being  to  his  ruin  if  the  consequences  involved  them- 
selves also ;  and  few  would  risk  it  if  met  at  the  moment 
by  the  full  knowledge  of  what  they  were  doing. 

A  young  man  in  Virginia  had  been  sadly  intemperate. 
He  was  a  man  of  great  talents,  fascination,  and  power,  but 
he  had  a  passion  for  brandy  which  nothing  could  control. 
Often  in  his  walks  a  friend  remonstrated  with  him,  but  in 
vain ;  as  often  in  turn  would  he  urge  his  friend  to  take  the 
social  glass  in  vain.  On  one  occasion  the  latter  agreed  to 
yield  to  him ;  and  as  they  walked  up  to  the  bar  together, 
the  barkeeper  said, — 

"Gentlemen,  what  will  you  have?" 

"  Wine,  sir,"  was  the  reply. 

The  glasses  were  filled,  and  the  friends  stood  ready  to 
pledge  each  other  in  renewed  and  constant  friendship, 
when  the  young  man  paused  and  said  to  his  intemperate 
friend, — 

"Now,  if  I  drink  this  glass  and  become  a  drunkard, 
will  you  take  the  responsibility  ?" 

Tiie  drunkard  looked  at  him  with  severity  and  said, — 

"  Set  down  that  glass !" 

It  was  set  down,  and  the  two  walked  away  without  say- 
ing a  word. 

435.  Relate  the  story  of  the  responsibility. 

436.  Does  one  glass  of  spirits  make  a  drunkard  ? 

437.  How  is  the  habit  of  drunkenness  acquired  ? 


108  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

438.  Were    those    who    are    drunkards    now   always 
drunkards? 

439.  Who  will  be  the  drunkards  a  few  years  hence  ? 

The  Infatuation  of  Appetite. 

"Sir,  it's  no  use  talking,"  said  a  poor  inebriate  to  a 
gentleman  who  was  trying  to  induce  him  to  reform  ;  "  if  a 
jug  of  whiskey  were  inside  of  the  '  infernal  pit/  guarded 
by  a  line  of  flame,  and  I  could  only  get  it  by  passing 
through,  I'd  go  for  it.  I  couldn't  help  it,  sir."  This 
terrible  infatuation  of  appetite  was  recently  illustrated  by 
a  fire  in  Dublin,  Ireland. 

The  fire  originated  in  a  bonded  store,  in  which  were 
some  five  thousand  barrels  of  whiskey  and  other  spirits. 
The  blazing  liquid  ran  down  the  streets,  scattering  destruc- 
tion in  its  course,  until  several  blocks  of  buildings  were 
destroyed.  Though  no  loss  of  life  actually  resulted  from 
the  fire  itself,  two  men  and  a  youth  fell  victims  to  their 
insatiable  thirst  for  whiskey.  Soldiers  with  fixed  bayo- 
nets guarded  the  casks  rescued  from  the  store;  but  the 
mob  found  their  way  into  side  streets,  where  the  burning 
spirits  flowed  along  the  gutters  like  lava.  Some,  it  is  said, 
tried  to  collect  the  liquor  in  their  hats,  and  others  in  their 
boots,  and,  failing  to  satisfy  their  passionate  craving  by 
such  means,  they  lay  across  the  channels  and  lapped  the 
intoxicating  stream  until  about  thirty  were  dragged  off  to 
the  hospital  insensible,  three  of  whom,  as  we  have  already 
mentioned,  expired. 

It  is  sad  to  read  of  such  degradation,  and  to  know  that 
each  one  of  those  infatuated  men  and  boys  was  made  so 
by  taking  the  first  glass. 

440.  Describe  the  fire  in  Dublin,  and  the  effect  of  the 
whiskey  upon  the  men. 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  109 

441.  Are  drunkards  generally  pure,  gentle,  easy  to  be 
entreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits? 

442.  Did  ever  a  person  drink  spirits  who  intended  to  be 
a  drunkard  ? 

The  Monkey  and  the  Drunkard. 

Mr.  Pollard  states  that  in  his  drinking  days  he  was  the 
companion  of  a  man  in  Arundel  County,  Maryland,  who 
had  a  monkey  which  he  valued  at  a  thousand  dollars. 
"  We  always  took  him  out  on  our  chestnut-parties.  He 
shook  off  all  our  chestnuts  for  us,  and  where  he  could  not 
shake  them  off,  he  would  go  to  the  very  end  of  the  limb 
and  knock  them  off  with  his  fist. 

"One  day  we  stopped  at  a  tavern  and  drank  freely. 
About  half  a  glass  of  whiskey  was  left,  and  Jack  took  the 
glass  and  drank  it  all.  Soon  he  was  merry,  skipped, 
hopped,  and  danced,  and  set  us  all  in  a  roar  of  laughter. 
Jack  was  drunk.  We  all  agreed,  six  of  us,  that  we 
would  come  to  the  tavern  next  day  and  get  Jack  drunk 
again,  and  have  sport  all  day.  I  called  at  my  friend's 
house  next  morning,  and  went  out  for  Jack.  Instead  of 
being  as  usual  on  his  box,  he  was  not  to  be  seen.  We 
looked  inside,  and  he  was  crouched  up  in  a  heap.  '  Come 
out  here/  said  his  master.  Jack  came  out  on  three  legs ;  his 
fore-paw  was  placed  on  the  side  of  his  head :  Jack  had  the 
headache ;  I  knew  what  was  the  matter  with  him.  He 
felt  just  as  I  felt  many  a  morning.  Jack  was  sick  and 
couldn't  go.  So  we  waited  three  days.  We  then  went, 
and  while  drinking,  a  glass  was  provided  for  Jack.  But 
where  was  he?  Skulking  behind  the  chairs.  f  Come  here, 
Jack,  and  drink,'  said  his  master,  holding  out  the  glass  to 
him.  Jack  retreated,  and  as  the  door  was  opened  slipped 
out,  and  in  a  moment  was  on  top  of  the  house.  His 
master  went  out  to  call  him  down,  but  he  would  not  come. 


HO  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

He  got  a  cowhide  and  shook  it  at  him.  Jack  sat  on  the 
ridge-pole  and  refused  to  obey.  His  master  got  a  gun  and 
pointed  it  at  him.  A  monkey  is  much  afraid  of  a  gun. 
Jack  slipped  over  the  back  side  of  the  house.  His  master 
then  got  two  guns,  and  had  one  pointed  on  each  side  of  the 
house,  when  the  monkey,  seeing  his  bad  predicament,  at 
once  whipped  up  the  chimney,  and  got  down  in  one  of  the 
flues,  holding  on  by  his  fore-paws.  The  master  was  beaten. 
The  man  kept  that  monkey  twelve  years,  but  could  never 
persuade  him  to  taste  another  drop  of  whiskey.  The 
beast  had  more  sense  than  a  man." 

443.  Relate  the  story  of  the  drunken  monkey. 

444.  Why  would  not  the  monkey  drink  again  ? 

445.  Could  such  a  monkey  ever  become  a  drunkard? 

446.  What  is  the  difference  between  many  men  and  that 
monkey  ? 

A  Sad  Story. 

The  Kansas  City  News  tells  a  sad  story  of  one  of  those 
wrecks  of  noble  manhood  brought  about  by  the  demon  of 
alcoholic  appetite.  Boys,  touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not. 

"  To-day  there  is  a  man  going  about  the  streets  of  Kansas 
City  ragged,  dirty,  and  penniless,  subsisting  on  free  lunches 
and  the  charities  of  gamblers,  who  has  not  slept  in  a  bed 
for  months,  and  who,  during  the  war,  was  one  of  the  most 
dashing  cavalry  officers  in  the  Union  army.  He  was  pro- 
moted from  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  to  full  brigadier 
and  brevet  major-general  for  brilliant  exploits  on  the  field 
of  battle,  and  for  a  long  time  had  a  large  and  important 
command. 

"  He  has  been  in  Kansas  City  for  two  or  three  months, 
under  an  assumed  name,  being  ashamed  to  dim  the  bril- 
liancy of  his  record  in  the  service  of  his  country  by  an  ex- 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  HI 

hibition  of  his  degradation  under  his  former  honored  name. 
He  is  generally  very  reticent,  having  little  to  do  with  any 
one  or  talking  but  little,  save  when  '  engineering'  for  a 
drink,  at  which  he  is  remarkably  successful. 

"  The  other  night,  while  lying  helplessly  drunk  in  the 
rear  part  of  a  Third  Street  saloon,  some  men  thought  to 
play  a  joke  on  him  by  stealing  his  shirt,  and  proceeded  to 
strip  him.  Underneath  his  shirt,  and  suspended  by  a  string 
around  his  neck,  was  a  small  canvas  bag,  which  the  men 
opened  and  found  to  contain  his  commission  as  brevet  major- 
general,  two  congratulatory  letters,  one  from  Grant  and  one 
from  President  Lincoln,  a  photograph  of  a  little  girl,  and 
a  curl  of  hair — a  '  chestnut  shadow' — that  doubtless  one 
day  crept  over  the  brow  of  some  loved  one. 

"  When  these  things  were  discovered  even  the  half- 
drunken  men  who  found  them  felt  a  respect  for  the  man's 
former  greatness  and  pity  for  his  fallen  condition,  and  qui- 
etly returned  the  bag  and  contents  to  where  they  found 
them,  and  replaced  the  sleeper's  clothes  upon  him.  Yester- 
day a  News  reporter  tried  to  interview  the  man  and  endeavor 
to  learn  something  of  his  life  in  the  past  few  years,  but  he 
declined  to  communicate  anything. 

"He  cried  like  a  child  when  told  how  his  right  name 
and  former  position  were  ascertained,  and,  with  tears  trick- 
ling down  his  cheeks,  said, — 

" '  For  God's  sake,  sir,  don't  publish  my  degradation,  or 
my  name,  at  least,  if  you  are  determined  to  say  something 
about  it.  It  is  enough  that  I  know  myself  how  low  I  have 
become.  Will  you  promise  me  that  much  ?  It  will  do  no 
good,  but  will  do  my  friends  a  great  deal  of  harm,  as,  for- 
tunately, they  think  I  died  in  South  America,  where  I  went 
at  the  close  of  the  war.' 

"Intemperance  and  the  gambling-table,  he  said,  had 
wrought  his  ruin." 


112  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

447.  Relate  the  story  of  the  nameless  drunkard. 

448.  How  could  a  man  who  was  thanked  by  Lincoln 
and  Grant  have  fallen  so  low  ? 

449.  Did  that  man  ever  expect  to  be  a  drunkard  ? 

450.  Did  he  reap  the  "  good  fruits"  of  a  well-spent  life  ? 
Why? 

A  Cold-Water  Hero. 

Brevet  Major-General  George  A.  Ouster,  the  comrade  of 
"  Phil"  Sheridan,  and  a  gallant  soldier,  like  Howard,  Foote, 
Farragut,  and  Stringham,  was  a  thorough  temperance  man, 
and  needed  no  whiskey  while  out  on  his  exhausting  expedi- 
tion down  the  Yellowstone  and  through  the  perilous  Black 
Hills.  A  young  man,  brevetted  major-general  of  the 
United  States  army  when  twenty-four  years  old  for  gallant 
service  in  the  field,  a  hero,  fgted  and  toasted,  and  in  every 
way  tempted,  he  maintained  his  principles.  The  Secretary 
of  War  and  several  other  distinguished  government  officers 
visited  General  Ouster  at  Fort  Abraham  Lincoln.  Says 
the  Newark  Daily  Advertiser : 

"  When  the  Secretary  and  his  party  were  approaching  the 
fort  the  sutler  of  the  post  sent  to  General  Ouster's  head- 
quarters two  boxes  and  one  basket  of  champagne,  with  a 
polite  note,  suggesting  that  it  might  be  acceptable  to  his 
guests.  The  general  immediately  returned  it,  saying  '  he 
neither  drank  wine  himself  nor  entertained  his  guests  with 
it.' 

"  Another  incident  may  not  be  inappropriate  here.  While 
the  general  was  stationed  at  Fort  Ripley,  in  1867,  he  had 
a  severe  attack  of  illness,  and  the  physician  prescribed 
brandy.  '  No/  said  the  general ;  '  I  will  die  first.7  >; 

451.  Relate  the  story  of  General  Ouster. 

452.  Could  it  have  been  possible  for  General  Ouster  to 
have  become  a  drunkard  with  such  principles?     Why? 


FRUITS  Of    GOOD  LIVING.  H3 

453.  Which  of  the  two  heroes  is  the  more  worthy  of 
imitation,  Ouster  or  the  man  who  was  ashamed  to  let  his 
name  be  known? 

454.  If  Ouster  could  do  without  spirits  in  all  his  hard 
campaigns,  are  they  necessary  ? 

455.  Do  wealth,  or  office,  or  social  position  save  men 
from  being  drunkards  ?     Why  ? 

What  Alcohol  witt  do. 

The  Sanitarian  tells  "What  Alcohol  will  do,"  thus: 
"  It  may  seem  strange,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  alco- 
hol regularly  applied  to  a  thrifty  farmer's  stomach  will 
remove  the  boards  from  the  fence,  let  cattle  into  his  crops, 
kill  his  fruit-trees,  mortgage  his  farm,  and  sow  his  fields 
with  wild  oats  and  thistles.  It  will  take  the  paint  oif  his 
building,  break  the  glass  out  of  the  windows  and  fill  them 
with  rags.  It  will  take  the  gloss  from  his  clothes  and  polish 
from  his  manners,  subdue  Ills  reason,  arouse  his  passions, 
bring  sorrow  and  disgrace  upon  his  family,  and  topple  him 
into  a  drunkard's  grave.  It  will  do  this  to  the  artisan  and 
the  capitalist,  the  matron  and  the  maiden,  as  well  as  to  the 
farmer,  for  in  its  deadly  enmity  to  the  human  race  alcohol 
is  no  respecter  of  persons." 

456.  Tell  what  alcohol  will  do. 

457.  How  will  alcohol  applied  to  a  man's  stomach  affect 
nis  fences  and  other  property  ? 

458.  Why  do  drunkards  rarely  reform  ? 

Because  they  have  not  generally  the  strength  of  principle 
to  resist  the  habit  of  intemperance. 

459.  What  are  the  "  mercy  and  good  fruits"  that  are  pro- 
duced by  the  drunkard  ? 


114  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

An  English  Girl's  Wise  Decision. 

Firmness,  such  as  appears  in  the  following  example,  may 
cost  much  heartache,  but  weakness  costs  much  more.  The 
disappointed  affection  that  turns  away  a  tippling  suitor  is 
far  less  misery  than  the  murdered  affection  of  a  drunkard's 
wife. 

A  young  English  woman  came  to  an  American  city  to 
marry  a  young  man  to  whom  she  was  affianced  in  England, 
and  who  had  come  to  this  country  two  years  previous  to 
engage  in  business.  She  was  to  marry  him  at  the  home  of 
a  friend  of  her  mother,  with  whom  she  was  stopping. 

During  the  time  she  was  making  up  her  wedding  outfit, 
he  came  to  see  her  one  evening  when  he  was  just  drunk 
enough  to  be  foolish.  She  was  shocked  and  pained  beyond 
measure.  She  then  learned  for  the  first  time  that  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  drinking  frequently  to  excess. 

She  immediately  stopped  her  preparations,  and  told  him 
she  could  not  marry  him.  He  protested  that  she  would 
drive  him  to  distraction  ;  promised  never  to  drink  another 
drop,  etc. 

"  No/'  she  said ;  "  I  dare  not  trust  my  future  happiness 
to  a  man  who  has  formed  such  a  habit.  I  came  three  thou- 
sand miles  to  marry  the  man  I  loved,  and  now,  rather  than 
marry  a  drunkard,  I  will  go  three  thousand  miles  back 
again/'  And  she  went. 

460.  Relate  the  English  girl's  wise  decision. 

461.  Is  it  safe  to  trust  the  promises  of  a  man  who  has 
contracted  the  habit  of  drinking  spirits?     Why? 

462.  Which  would  be  the  harder  to  break,  the  evil  habit 
of  drinking  or  the  promises  of  reform  ? 

463.  Was  it  right  for  the   young  woman  to  refuse  to 
marry  him  after  she  had  promised  to  be  his  wife? 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  115 

It  was  right,  because  she  did  not  promise  to  marry  a 
drunkard. 

464.  Might  she  not  have  married  him  and  helped  him 
to  reform  ? 

No  wise  girl  will  marry  a  drunkard  and  take  the  risks 
of  his  reformation. 

465.  Is  it  possible  for  drunkards  to  reform? 

It  is  possible;  for  the  grace  of  God  can  save  even  a 
drunkard. 

466.  What  is  necessary  to  reform  a  drunkard  ? 
1st.  He  must  sincerely  desire  to  reform. 

2d.  He  must  make  the  effort  to  reform. 
3d.  He  must  shun  his  drinking  companions. 
4th.  He  must  shun  every  temptation  to  drink  spirits. 
5th.  His  friends  must  try  to  help  him  keep  his  good 
resolutions. 

467.  Do  all  these  things  always  reform  a  drunkard? 
No.     Sometimes  the  habit  is  too  strong  to  be  overcome, 

and  the  unfortunate  person  dies  a  drunkard. 

What  Love  can  do. 

This  short  story,  by  an  English  writer,  has  a  beautiful 
moral.  One  wonders  at  the  fidelity  of  the  dear  child  even 
more  than  at  the  brutality  of  the  father : 

"  That  night  I  was  out  late ;  I  returned  by  the  Lee 
cabin  about  eleven  o'clock.  As  I  approached  I  saw  a 
strange-looking  object  cowering  under  the  low  eaves.  A 
cold  rain  was  falling.  I  drew  near.  It  was  Millie,  wet  to 
the  skin.  Her  father  had  driven  her  out  some  hours  be- 
fore ;  she  had  lain  down  to  listen  for  the  heavy  snoring  of 
his  drunken  slumbers,  so  that  she  might  creep  back  to  bed. 
Before  she  heard  it  nature  seemed  exhausted,  and  she  fell 
into  a  troubled  sleep,  with  raindrops  pattering  upon  her. 

"  I  tried  to  take  her  home  with  me,  but  no ;  true  as 


116  THE  PRIMER   OF  'POLITENESS. 

martyr  to  his  faith,  she  struggled  from  me,  and  returned  to 
the  now  dark  and  silent  cabin.     Things  went  on  for  weeks 
and  months,  but  at  length  Lee  grew  less  violent,  even  in 
his  drunken  fits,  to  his  self-denying  child ;  and  one  day, 
when  he  awoke  from  a  slumber  after  a  debauch,  and  found 
her  preparing  breakfast  for  him  and  singing  a  childish  song, 
he  turned  to  her,  and,  with  a  tone  almost  tender,  said, — 
" '  Millie,  what  makes  you  stay  with  me  ?' 
" '  Because  you  are  my  father,  and  I  love  you.' 
"  '  You  love  me  ?'  repeated  the  wretched  man.      '  You 
love  me !'     He  looked  at  his  bloated  limbs,  his  soiled  and 
ragged  clothes.     '  Love  me !'  he  still  murmured ;  '  Millie, 
what  makes  you  love  me  ?    I  am  a  poor  drunkard  ;  every- 
body else  despises  me ;  why  don't  you  ?' 

" ( Dear  father/  said  the  girl,  with  swimming  eyes,  i  my 
mother  taught  me  to  love  you,  and  every  night  she  comes 
from  heaven  and  stands  by  my  little  bed,  and  says,  "  Millie, 
don't  leave  your  father ;  he  will  get  away  from  that  rum 
fiend  some  of  these  days,  and  then  how  happy  you  will 
be.";  The  quiet,  persistent  love  of  this  child  was  the 
redemption  of  this  man." 

468.  Relate  what  love  can  do  in  reform. 

469.  Was  it  the  duty  of  Millie  to  adhere  to  her  father? 

470.  How  long  may  we  hope  and  work  for  the  refor- 
mation of  a  drunkard  ? 

As  long  as  he  lives. 

What  He  Lost. 

Sinful  gratification  is  well  worth  losing,  for  nothing 
short  of  its  loss  leaves  room  in  the  heart  for  a  true  and 
noble  life.  This  is  the  moral  of  a  reformed  young  man's 
temperance  speech  recently  made  in  New  York,  which  the 
Independent  reports  as  follows : 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  1 1  7' 


"  I  have  been  thinking,  since  I  came  into  the  meeting 
to-night,  about  the  losses  I've  met  with  since  I  signed  the 
total  abstinence  pledge.  I  tell  you,  there  isn't  a  man  in 
the  society  who  has  lost  more  by  stopping  drink  than  I 
have.  Wait  a  bit  till  I  tell  you  what  I  mean.  There  was 
a  nice  job  of  work  to  be  done  in  the  shop  to-day,  and  the 
boss  called  for  me.  ( Give  it  to  Law/  says  he.  *  He's  the 
best  hand  in  the  shop.'  Well,  I  told  my  wife  at  supper- 
time,  and  says  she, — 

" '  Why,  Laurie,  he  used  to  call  you  the  worst.  You've 
lost  your  bad  name,  haven't  you  ?' 

" '  That's  a  fact,  wife,'  says  I.  '  And  it  ain't  all  I've  lost 
in  the  last  sixteen  months,  either.  I  had  poverty  and 
wretchedness,  and  I've  lost  them.  I  had  an  old,  ragged 
coat,  and  a  shocking  bad  hat,  and  some  water-proof  boots 
that  let  the  wet  out  at  the  toe  as  fast  as  they  took  it  in  at 
the  heel.  I've  lost  them.  I  had  a  red  face,  and  a  trem- 
bling hand,  and  a  pair  of  shaky  legs,  that  gave  me  an  awk- 
ward tumble  now  and  then.  I  had  a  habit  of  cursing  and 
swearing,  and  I've  got  rid  of  that.  I  had  an  aching  head 
sometimes,  and  a  heavy  heart,  and,  worse  than  all  the  rest, 
.a  guilty  conscience.  Thank  God,  I've  lost  them  all !'  Then 
I  told  my  wife  what  she  had  lost.  '  You  had  an  old,  ragged 
gown,  Mary/  says  I.  '  And  you  had  trouble,  and  sorrow, 
and  a  poor,  wretched  home,  and  plenty  of  heart-aches,  for 
you  had  a  miserable  drunkard  for  a  husband.  Mary,  Mary, 
thank  the  Lord  for  all  you  and  I  have  lost  since  I  signed 
the  Good  Samaritan  pledge !' " 

471.  Relate  what  Laurie  lost,  and  how  he  lost  it. 

472.  State  what  Laurie  gained. 

473.  If  it  is  not  right  to  learn  to  drink  spirits,  is  it  right 
to  give  them  or  sell  them  as  a  drink  to  others  ? 

See  question  No.  90. 


118  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

474.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  about  tempting  our 
neighbor  ? 

"  Lead  us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil." 

475.  Repeat  the  eleventh  commandment. 
See  question  No.  80. 

476.  Is  it  possible  for  you  to  love  your  neighbor  and  at 
the  same  time  tempt  him  to  his  ruin  ? 

An  Awakened  Conscience. 

Of  all  the  terrible  curses  that  have  destroyed  humanity, 
intemperance  is  the  most  fearful : 

A  young  man  entered  the  bar-room  of  a  village  tavern 
and  called  for  a  drink.  "  No/'  said  the  landlord, "  you  have 
had  delirium  tremens  once,  and  I  cannot  sell  you  any  more." 

He  stepped  aside  to  make  room  for  a  couple  of  young 
men  who  had  just  entered,  and  the  landlord  waited  upon 
them  very  politely.  The  other  had  stood  by,  silent  and 
sullen,  and  when  they  had  finished  he  walked  up  to  the 
landlord,  and  thus  addressed  him, — 

"  Six  years  ago,  at  their  age,  I  stood  where  those  young 
men  are  now, — I  was  a  man  with  fair  prospects.  Now,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-eight,  I  am  a  wreck,  body  and  mind. 
You  led  me  to  drink.  In  this  room  I  formed  the  habit 
that  has  been  my  ruin.  Now  sell  me  a  few  glasses  more, 
and  your  work  will  be  done !  I  shall  soon  be  out  of  the 
way ;  there  is  no  hope  for  me.  But  they  can  be  saved.  Do 
not  sell  it  to  them.  Sell  to  me  and  let  me  die,  and  the  world 
will  be  rid  of  me;  but  for  heaven's  sake  sell  no  more  to 
them !" 

The  landlord  listened,  pale  and  trembling.  Setting  down 
his  decanter,  he  exclaimed, — 

"  God  help  me !  this  is  the  last  drop  I  will  ever  sell  to 
any  one !" 

And  he  kept  his  word. 


FRUITS  OF  GOOD  LIVING.  119 

477.  Relate  the  story  of  the  awakened  conscience. 

478.  What  is  meant  by  "  delirium  tremens"  or,  as  it  is 
sometimes  called,  "  mania  a  potu"  f 

It  means  "  trembling  insanity,"  or  u  insanity  from  drink." 

The  Youth's  Execution. 

The  sheriff,  says  an  old  man,  took  out  his  watch,  and 
said,  "  If  you  have  anything  to  say  speak  now,  for  you 
have  only  five  minutes  to  live." 

The  young  man  burst  into  tears,  and  said,  "  I  have  to 
die.  I  had  only  one  little  brother,  and  he  had  beautiful 
blue  eyes  and  flaxen  hair,  and  I  loved  him  ;  but  one  day 
I  got  drunk,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  and  coming  home, 
I  found  my  little  brother  gathering  strawberries  in  the 
garden,  and  I  became  angry  writh  him  without  a  cause,  and 
killed  him  at  one  blow  vith  a  rake.  I  did  not  know  any- 
thing about  it  until  next  morning  when  I  awoke  from  sleep, 
and  found  myself  tied  and  guarded,  and  was  told  that  where 
my  little  brother  was  found  his  hair  was  clotted  with  his 
blood  and  brains,  and  he  was  dead.  Whiskey  has  done  this. 
It  has  ruined  me.  I  never  was  drunk  but  once.  I  have 
only  one  more  word  to  say,  and  then  I  am  going  to  my  final 
judge.  I  say  it  to  young  people,  Never!  never!  never! 
touch  anything  that  will  intoxicate!"  As  he  pronounced 
these  words  he  sprang  from  the  box,  and  was  launched  into 
an  awful  eternity. 

479.  Relate  the  story  of  the  youth's  execution. 

480.  Repeat  his  last  words. 

481.  Is  it  safe  to  get  drunk  even  once?     Why? 

482.  Do  you  need  to  drink  spirits? 

483.  When  will  you  begin  to  need  to  drink  spirits? 

484.  Do  you  expect  to  become  a  drunkard  ? 


120  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

485.  Why  may  you  not  make  a  temperate  use  of  spirits 
and  not  get  drunk  ? 

486.  How  many  times  can  you  drink  spirits  until  you 
form  the  habit? 

487.  Are  you  any  smarter  or  wiser  or  better  than  many 
other  young  people  were  who  are  now  drunkards? 

488.  What  is  the  safe  rule  for  young  folks  in  regard  to 
drinking  anything  that  will  intoxicate  ? 

THE   TOBACCO   HABIT. 

489.  In  what  other  habit  do  many  people  indulge  intem- 
perately  ? 

In  the  use  of  tobacco. 

490.  What  is  tobacco  ? 

It  is  a  plant,  the  leaves  of  which  are  prepared  for  chew- 
ing, smoking,  and  snuffing. 

491.  Is  it  necessary  for  the  health  to  use  tobacco? 

No.  Many  men  and  most  of  the  women  of  our  country 
do  not  use  it.  It  is  rarely  used  for  medicine. 

492.  Do  people  like  the  use  of  tobacco  at  first  ? 

No.     It  almost  always  produces  sickness  and  vomiting. 

493.  Why  do  boys  begin  to  use  tobacco  ? 

For  much  the  same  reason  that  they  learn  to  swear  and 
to  drink  spirits :  they  think  it  is  manly. 

494.  If  it  makes  people  sick,  why  do  they  continue  to 
use  it? 

They  persevere  in  its  use  until  they  become  accustomed 
to  it. 

495.  Is  tobacco  good  for  young  people  ? 

The  best  medical  doctors  declare  that  young  people  espe- 
cially should  never  use  tobacco  in  any  form,  as  it  is  injurious 
to  the  brain,  the  nervous  system,  and  to  the  heart. 

496.  Why  do  the  older  people  so  frequently  chew  and 
smoke  tobacco  ? 


FRUITS  OF   GOOD  LIVING.  121 

1st.  It  is  a  stimulant,  and  after  using  it  some  time  they 
feel  the  need  of  it,  as  a  drunkard  feels  the  need  of  strong 
drink. 

2d.  Then  they  continue  its  use  as  a  habit,  which  is  more 
easily  formed  than  broken. 

497.  What  are  the  dangers  of  using  such  a  stimulant? 
1st.  That  it  will  be  used  intemperately. 

2d.  That  its  intemperate  use  will  injure  the  health. 
3d.  It  often  leads  to  or  increases  the  desire  for  strong 
drink. 

498.  What  other  stimulant  do  drunkards  use  besides 
spirits  ? 

Drunkards  almost  always  use  tobacco  intemperately. 

499.  Which  did  they  learn  to  use  first  ? 
First  the  tobacco,  then  the  ardent  spirits. 

500.  Do  women  and  girls  generally  use  tobacco  ?    Why  ? 

501.  If  it  be  good  for  the  boys  to  use  tobacco  in  any 
form,  why  is  it  not  equally  good  for  their  sisters? 

502.  What  reasons  may  be  given  for  not  using  tobacco  ? 
1st.  It  is  not  necessary  for  health. 

2d.  It  is  injurious  to  many  persons. 
•     3d.  Its  use  as  a  stimulant  is  likely  to  result  in  its  abuse. 

4th.  Its  odor  is  offensive  to  many  persons,  and  we  have 
no  right  to  make  ourselves  disagreeable. 

5th.  It  is  unnecessary  and  expensive. 

A  Chance  for  Saving. 

"  A  penny  saved  is  a  penny  earned,"  is  one  of  Poor  Rich- 
ard's proverbs  worth  remembering  by  everybody.  Any  of 
our  readers,  when  tempted  to  form  the  habit  of  smoking, 
will  do  well  to  think  how  much  they  can  save  by  keep- 
ing from  the  habit.  Here  is  a  moderate  estimate  of  the 
saving : 

A  young  gentleman  of  my  acquaintance  concluded  to 


122  THE   PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

commence  smoking  cigars  on  his  twentieth  birthday,  but 
resolved  that  he  would  never  exceed  eight  per  week,  nor 
pay  more  than  ten  cents  each  for  them.  I  asked  him  to 
reckon  how  much  money  would  be  saved  by  the  time  he 
was  sixty  if  he  should  place  the  eighty  cents  per  week  in 
the  savings-bank  every  six  months  and  let  it  lie  there, 
drawing  seven  per  cent,  interest.  Being  quick  at  figures, 
he  made  the  calculation,  and  found  the  amount  to  be  eight 
thousand  three  hundred  and  eleven  dollars.  "  Put  that  in 
your  pipe  and  smoke  it,"  young  man. 

503.  Is  it  wise  to  spend  money  for  that  which  may  prove 
an  injury? 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

504.  Do  you  use  tobacco  in  any  form  ? 

505.  Is  it  needful  to  use  it  ? 

506.  Do  you  use  it  with  the  approval  of  your  parents 
and  teacher? 

507.  Do  you  buy  it  or  beg  it  ? 

508.  Why  did  you  commence  to  use  tobacco  ? 

509.  Would  it  not  be  better  to  discontinue  its  use  before 
it  becomes  an  intemperate  habit? 

510.  Is  it  well  for  a  young  person  to  continue  a  habif 
that  will  consume  so  much  in  smoke  ? 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOOKISY, 
511.  What  have  already  been  discussed  as  the  habits  of 

a  really  good  man  ? 

The  moral  law  says  he  should  be  "  First  Pure ;  then 

Peaceable;  Gentle,  and  Easy  to  be  Entreated;  Full  of 

Mercy  and  Good  Fruits." 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  123 

512.  What  are  the  remaining  qualities  that  the  moral 
law  says  should  distinguish  a  good  man  ? 

He  should  be  "  Without  Partiality  and  Without  Hypoc- 


risy." 


513.  What  is  meant  by  persons  without  partiality  and 
without  hypocrisy  ? 

It  means  that  men  should  be  just  in  their  opinions  and 
honest  in  their  dealings. 

PARTIALITY. 

514.  What  is  meant  by  partiality  ? 

It  means  an  unjust  preference  or  favoritism. 

515.  How  may  partiality  be  shown? 

It  may  be  shown  as  a  false  witness,  a  gossip,  a  slanderer, 
and  a  tattler. 

The,  False  Witness. 

In  the  county  of  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  a  jury  of 
three  person?,  called  arbitrators,  was  summoned  to  try  a 
case  between  two  neighbors  in  reference  to  some  property 
in  dispute.  The  lawsuit  had  awakened  a  considerable 
interest  in  the  community,  and  a  large  number  of  persons 
had  assembled  to  hear  the  trial.  The  property  was  valu- 
able, and,  as  there  were  many  witnesses,  the  cost  of  the  suit 
would  amount  to  such  a  sum  as  to  make  it  very  desirable 
for  either  party  to  win  the  case.  From  the  anxiety  mani- 
fested by  one  of  the  parties  to  secure  certain  witnesses,  it 
was  strongly  suspected  that  an  effort  would  be  made  to 
gain  an  award  as  the  result  of  false  swearing.  One  of 
these  witnesses  was  just  entering  upon  manhood,  and  from 
various  circumstances  it  was  supposed  that  the  award  would 
rest  to  a  great  extent  upon  his  testimony.  His  reputation 
was  not  the  best  in  the  community,  so  that  it  was  feared 
his  honesty  would  not  offer  a  serious  opposition  to  a  false 


124  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

oath,  if  he  thought  he  would  be  well  paid  for  his  par- 
tiality. 

The  case  was  called,  and  several  witnesses  took  the  oath 
and  gave  their  testimony.  Finally  the  young  man  was 
brought  upon  the  witness-stand.  All  eyes  were  centred 
upon  him,  and  expectation  was  awakened  as  to  what  he 
would  say.  He  was  requested  to  hold  up  his  right  hand 
and  take  the  witness's  oath.  There  was  a  solemn  stillness 
in  the  room  as  he  gave  in  detail  all  the  minute  circum- 
stances of  the  case,  as  he  had  been  previously  instructed  to 
do.  The  character  of  his  testimony  only  showed  to  the 
opposite  party  the  desperation  with  which  the  case  was  con- 
tested, and  the  baseness  of  the  means  employed  to  secure 
the  desired  result. 

When  the  witness  was  to  be  cross-questioned  or  ex- 
amined by  the  other  side,  the  lawyer  said  to  the  witness, 
"  Young  man,  do  you  know  the  nature  of  an  oath  ?  Do 
you  know  that  you  held  up  your  right  hand  in  the  presence 
of  this  court  and  called  upon  God  to  witness  that  you 
were  *  to  tell  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but 
the  truth,  as  you  will  have  to  answer  to  God  at  the  great 
day7?  Young  man,  do  you  know  the  fearful  guilt  which 
you  incur  by  taking  such  an  oath,  and  then  deliberately 
giving  such  testimony  as  you  have  just  given  ?" 

There  was  a  fearful  silence  in  the  room,  which  was  re- 
vealed by  the  ticking  of  the  clock.  Every  eye  in  the  room 
was  riveted  on  the  witness.  He  felt  that  he  was  in  a  posi- 
tion of  terrible  responsibility;  he  became  restless,  grew 
white  and  ghastly,  and  in  a  moment  the  strength  left  his 
knees,  and  he  fell  to  the  floor  as  one  struck  by  death. 

It  was  indeed  too  true,  as  was  afterwards  ascertained, 
that  he  had  been  engaged  to  swear  falsely. 

516.  Relate  the  story  of  the  false  witness. 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  125 

517.  What  is  a  witness  expected  to  tell? 

He  is  expected  only  to  tell  what  he  knows, — that  is,  what 
he  has  himself  seen  or  heard. 

518.  What  is  an  oath  as  taken  in  court  ? 

It  is  a  solemn  promise  or  pledge,  by  the  help  of  God,  to 
tell  "  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth." 

519.  What  is  the  crime  of  taking  a  false  oath  called? 
It  is  called  perjury,  and  he  who  takes  a  false  oath  is  called 

a  perjurer. 

520.  What  is  the  difference  between  a  perjurer  and  any 
other  liar? 

The  perjurer  is  a  liar  who  solemnly  calls  on  God  to  wit- 
ness his  lying. 

521.  Are  good  men  impelled  to  tell  the  truth  by  taking 
an  oath  ? 

No.  Good  men  always  tell  the  truth  with  or  without 
an  oath. 

522.  What  do  the  interests  of  truth  always  require  of 
every  witness  ? 

That  he  tell  the  truth  "  without  partiality." 

The  Senator's  Oath. 

Mr.  J.  T.  was  elected  a  senator  from  the  county  of  Co- 
lumbiana  to  the  second  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of 
Ohio.  He  appeared  and  made  the  necessary  oath,  and 
took  his  seat.  In  a  few  days  he  became  melancholy,  which 
soon  progressed  to  insanity.  In  his  insane  ravings  he  dis- 
closed that  he  was  not  thirty  years  of  age  when  he  took  the 
oath  of  office  and  his  seat,  and  that  his  conscience  upbraided 
him  with  the  crime  of  perjury  in  taking  an  oath  to  support 
the  constitution,  and  at  the  same  moment  taking  a  seat  in 
violation  of  its  provisions.  From  this  insanity  he  never 
recovered,  and  survived  its  commencement  but  a  few  months. 

L* 


126  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

523.  Relate  the  story  of  the  senator's  oath. 

524.  Why  did  the  young  man  before  alluded  to  fall 
fainting,  and  the  senator  become  crazy  ? 

525.  What  is  conscience  ? 
See  question  No.  30. 

526.  May  a  witness  be  compelled  to  give  testimony  in 
court  ? 

Yes.  The  court  may  require  him  to  tell  what  he  knows 
in  any  case,  or  go  to  prison  for  his  refusal. 

527.  May  a  man  be  compelled  to  testify  against  himself? 
No  man  is  expected  to  testify  against  himself,  though  he 

may  acknowledge  his  guilt  when  charged  with  crime. 

528.  Why  should  the  court  compel  a  witness  to  give  tes- 
timony concerning  others  ? 

Because  the  interests  of  society  require  that  every  man 
shall  tell  what  he  knows  when  he  is  called  upon. 

THE  GOSSIP. 

529.  What  is  meant  by  gossip  ? 

It  means  either  idle,  thoughtless  talk,  or  a  tattling  person. 

530.  How  do  gossips  often  harm  their  neighbors  ? 

By  repeating  harmful  stories  about  them  and  creating 
scandal. 

Need  of  Watching. 

Dr.  Johnson,  giving  advice  to  an  intimate  friend,  said, 
"  Above  all,  accustom  your  children  constantly  to  tell  the 
truth,  without  varying  in  any  circumstance."  A  lady  pres- 
ent emphatically  exclaimed,  "  Nay,  this  is  too  much ;  for  a 
little  variation  in  narrative  must  happen  a  thousand  times  a 
day  if  one  is  not  perpetually  watching."  "Well,  madame," 
replied  the  doctor,  "  and  you  ought  to  be  perpetually  watch- 
ing. It  is  more  from  carelessness  about  truth  than  from 
intentional  lying  that  there  is  so  much  falsehood  in  the 
world." 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  127 

531.  Repeat  Dr.  Johnson's  advice. 

532.  May  we  repeat  a  scandal  about  our  neighbor  even 
if  it  be  true  ? 

The  moral  law  says,  "Love  worketh  no  ill  to  our  neigh- 
bor." If  we  can  do  him  no  good,  we  should  do  him  no 
harm. 

533.  When  two  persons  listen  to  the  same  story  can  they 
repeat  it  in  the  same  words  ? 

Few  people  can  remember  the  exact  words  as  they  are 
spoken. 

534.  How  many  persons  does  it  take  to  make  a  scandal  ? 
It  takes  two, — one  gossip  to  tell  it  and  another  to  listen 

to  it. 

535.  How  may  we  help  to  prevent  gossips  from  doing 
harm? 

By  not  hearing  and  by  not  repeating  anything  that  will 
harm  our  neighbor. 

The  Origin  of  Scandal. 

Said  Mrs.  A. 

To  Mrs.  J., 

In  quite  a  confidential  way, 
"  It  seems  to  me 

That  Mrs.  B. 
Takes  too  much — something — in  her  tea." 

And  Mrs.  J. 

To  Mrs.  K., 
That  night  was  overheard  to  say — 

She  grieved  to  touch 

Upon  it  much, 
But  "  Mrs.  B.  took— such  and  such !" 

Then  Mrs.  K. 

"Went  straight  away 
And  told  a  friend,  the  self-same  day, 


128  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

"  'Twas  sad  to  think"— 

Here  came  a  wink — 
"That  Mrs.  B.  was  fond  of  drink." 

The  friend's  disgust 

Was  such  she  must 
Inform  a  lady,  "  which  she  nussed," 
"  That  Mrs.  B. 

At  half-past  three 
"Was  that  far  gone  she  couldn't  see  !w 

This  lady  we 

Have  mentioned,  she 
Gave  needle- work  to  Mrs.  B., 

And  at  such  news 

Could  scarcely  choose 
But  further  needle- work  refuse. 

Then  Mrs.  B., 

As  you'll  agree, 
Quite  properly — she  said,  said  she, 

That  she  would  track 

The  scandal  back 
To  those  who  made  her  look  so  black. 

Through  Mrs.  K. 

And  Mrs.  J. 
She  got  at  last  to  Mrs.  A., 

And  asked  her  why, 

With  cruel  lie, 
She  painted  her  so  deep  a  dye  ? 

Said  Mrs.  A., 

In  sore  dismay, 
"  I  no  such  thing  could  ever  say, 

I  said  that  you 

Had  stouter  grew 
On  too  much  sugar, — which  you  do !" 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  129 

536.  How  did  the  scandal  about  Mrs.  B.  commence? 

537.  How  did  it  grow  ? 

538.  How  did  it  end  ? 

539.  If  the  gossips  had  practised  the  Golden  Rule  would 
Mrs.  B.  have  suffered  any  wrong  ?     Why  ? 

The  Gossip  Rebuked. 

Dr.  Gill,  a  learned  English  divine  of  the  last  century, 
was  not  renowned  for  his  jokes.  But  he  got  one  off  which 
is  quite  humorous.  Mr.  Spurgeon  tells  the  story. 

It  is  said  that  a  garrulous  dame  once  called  upon  him  to 
find  fault  with  the  excessive  length  of  his. white  bands. 
"  Well,  well,"  said  the  doctor,  "  what  do  you  think  is  the 
right  length  ?  Make  them  as  long  or  as  short  as  you  like/' 

The  lady  expressed  her  delight ;  she  was  sure  her  dear 
pastor  would  grant  her  request,  and  therefore  she  had 
brought  her  scissors  with  her,  and  would  do  the  trimming 
at  once.  Accordingly,  snip,  snip,  and  the  thing  was  done, 
and  the  bibs  returned. 

"  Now,"  said  the  doctor,  "  my  good  sister,  you  must  do 
me  a  good  turn  also." 

"  Yes,  that  I  will,  doctor.     What  can  it  be  ?" 

"  Well,  you  have  something  about  you  which  is  a  deal 
too  long,  and  I  should  like  to  see  it  shorter." 

"  Indeed,  dear  sir,  I  will  not  hesitate,"  said  the  dame. 
"  What  is  it  ?  Here  are  the  scissors,  use  them  as  you  please." 

"  Come,  then,"  said  the  pastor,  "  good  sister,  put  out  your 
tongue." 

We  have  often  pictured  him  sitting  in  the  old  chair  which 
is  preserved  in  our  vestry,  and  thus  quietly  rebuking  the 
gossip. 

540.  Relate  how  Dr.  Gill  rebuked  the  gossip. 

541.  What  was  the  matter  with  the  woman's  tongue? 

9 


130  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

542.  Why  is  a  gossip's  tongue  dangerous  to  society  ? 

543.  Which  are  worse,  the  gossip's  itching  ears  or  slan- 
derous tongue? 

A  Life  Ruined  by  a  Slander. 

More  than  fifty  years  ago  a  young  man  lived  in  a  Western 
city.  As  a  druggist  he  was  accumulating  property,  possess- 
ing the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  community,  as  was 
proved  by  the  fact  that,  as  he  was  about  starting  to  the  East 
to  lay  in  stock,  the  cashier  of  a  bank  handed  him  a  package 
of  money  in  bills  to  be  handed  to  a  bank  officer  in  Phila- 
delphia. 

Being  very  obliging,  he  received  the  package  and  prom- 
ised to  deliver  it  promptly  on  his  arrival.  This  he  did. 
The  cashier  of  the  bank  to  whom  he  delivered  the  bills 
looked  over  them  hastily,  placed  them  in  a  drawer,  saying 
it  was  "  correct,"  and  went  on  with  his  writing. 

Now  for  the  singular  sequel.  A  month  later  the  West- 
ern banker  came  to  the  young  druggist  and  informed  him 
that  a  bill  was  missing. 

The  young  man  said  he  did  not  know  how  that  could  be, 
for  he  had  delivered  the  package  as  he  had  received  it, 
the  banker  had  looked  it  over,  pronounced  it  correct,  and 
he  thought  his  responsibility  ended  there.  The  facts  stood 
thus :  two  prominent  business  men,  in  responsible  positions, 
on  one  side,  and  the  unsupported  say-so  of  a  young  drug- 
gist on  the  other.  The  odds  were  too  unequal,  and  the 
young  man  was  not  believed. 

The  community  withdrew  their  patronage  and  confidence  ; 
his  business  was  broken  up ;  he  first  attempted  one  thing, 
then  another,  but  a  cloud  seemed  to  hang  over  him. 

Years  rolled  on.  The  story  was  handed  down  from  one 
to  another,  and  new-comers  imbibed  the  prejudices  of  the 
old ;  and  twenty  years  later  there  was  an  odium  attached  to 


PARTIALITY  AND   HYPOCRISY.  131 

his  character,  so  that  at  the  mention  of  his  name  there  was 
that  falling  of  the  countenance  which  meant "  no  confidence." 
The  young  druggist  became  an  old  man,  but  never  suc- 
ceeded in  regaining  the  social  position  he  had  lost.  He 
died  in  disgrace. 

544.  Relate  the  story  of  a  life  spoiled  by  a  slander. 

545.  Is  it  possible  that  an  unaccountable  error  may  occur 
in  business? 

546.  Who  was  to  blame,  the  druggist  or  the  cashier  or 
the  man  who  sent  the  money  ? 

547.  If  we  are  without  partiality,  what  shall  we  do  in 
such  a  case  ? 

It  is  best  to  make  no  judgment. 

The  Monarch's  Question. 

When  any  one  was  speaking  ill  of  another  in  the  presence 
of  Peter  the  Great,  he  at  first  listened  to  him  attentively, 
and  then  interrupted  him.  "  Is  there  not/'  said  he,  "  a 
fair  side  also  to  the  character  of  the  person  of  whom  you 
are  speaking?  Corne,  tell  me  what  good  qualities  you  have 
remarked  about  him."  One  would  think  this  monarch  had 
learned  that  precept,  "  Speak  not  evil  one  of  another." 

548.  Relate  the  habit  of  Peter  the  Great. 

549.  Should  any  one  be  condemned  without  having  a 
chance  to  be  heard  ?     Why  ? 

550.  Should  a  previous  good  name  have  any  weight  in 
determining  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  any  story  ? 

Too  Sure. 

Over-certainty,  as  well  as  conscious  falsehood,  has  a  con- 
fusing effect  on  one's  language.  The  Lewistown  (Maine) 
Journal  says, — 


132  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

"  There  was  a  sheep-killing  case  at  Auburn  the  other  day. 
The  witness  for  the  plaintiff  was  a  most  decided  witness. 
What  he  knew  lie  was  positive  about,  and  he  was  positive 
to  exactness.  Warming  up  to  it,  he  swore  on  direct  exami- 
nation that  he  saw  the  sheep  kill  the  dog.  Subsequently 
the  court,  addressing  the  witness,  remarked,  <  You  testified 
on  your  direct  examination  that  you  saw  the  sheep  kill  the 
dog.  Now,  Mr.  Witness,  are  you  prepared,  on  your  oath, 
to  testify  that  this  statement  is  true?' 

" '  I  am/  replies  the  witness,  with  unction. 

"  The  Court. — '  Will  you  swear  that  you  saw  the  sheep 
kill  the  dog  ?' 

"  Witness. — <  I  am  sure  of  what  I  saw.' 

"  The  Court.—1  Then  you  saw  the  sheep  kill  the  dog?' 

"  Witness  (soliloquizing). — '  The  sheep  kill  the  dog !  Did 
I  swear  to  that  ?  (overwhelmed  with  confusion.)  Oh,  I  don't 
mean  that !  What  I  saw  was  the  dog  kill  the  sheep.' 

"  The  judge,  the  learned  lawyers,  and  the  intelligent  jury, 
were  whelmed  in  one  common  burst  of  laughter." 

551.  Relate  the  story  of  the  witness  who  was  too  sure. 

552.  Is  it  well  for  a  person  to  be  too  positive? 

It  is  always  well  to  try  to  be  exact,  but  even  the  most 
exact  person  may  make  mistakes. 

553.  If  a  person  can  make  mistakes  in  his  own  language, 
is  it  not  possible  to  make  mistakes  in  quoting  other  people? 

THE  TATTLER. 

554.  What  is  meant  by  a  tattler  ? 

A  tattler  is  a  school  gossip ;  one  who  repeats  scandal  to 
injure  another. 

555.  How  should  the  tattler  be  esteemed  ? 

The  tattler  is  a  mischief-making  busybody,  to  be  despised 
by  everybody. 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  13$ 

556.  What  is  the  difference  between  a  tattler  and  one 
who  is  called  on  as  a  witness  ? 

The  tattler  gladly  tells  what  will  injure  another  without 
being  asked,  while  a  witness  only  gives  evidence  when  the 
teacher  requires  it. 

557.  What  principle  should  always  govern  a  witness  in 
school  as  in  a  court  ? 

Always  to  tell  the  truth,  without  partiality  and  without 
hypocrisy. 

558.  WThy  should  we  despise  a  tattler  ? 

Because  he  likes  to  tell  evil  reports  without  being  required 
to  do  so. 

A  Brave  Soy. 

What  a  glorious  world  we  should  live  in  if  only  all 
boys,  and  men  too,  had  the  moral  courage  and  nobleness  of 
Bonnie  Christie ! 

Two  boys  were  in  a  school-room  alone  together,  when 
some  fireworks,  contrary  to  the  master's  express  prohibition, 
exploded.  The  one  boy  denied  it ;  the  other,  Bonnie  Chris- 
tie, would  neither  admit  nor  deny  it,  and  was  severely  flogged 
for  his  obstinacy.  When  the  boys  got  alone  again, — 

u  Why  didn't  you  deny  it?"  asked  the  real  delinquent. 

"  Because  there  were  only  we  two,  and  one  of  us  must 
then  have  lied,"  said  Bonnie. 

"Then  why  not  say  I  did  it?" 

"  Because  you  said  you  didn't,  and  I  would  spare  the 
liar." 

The  boy's  heart  melted.  Bonnie's  moral  gallantry  sub- 
dued him. 

When  school  resumed,  the  young  rogue  marched  up  to 
the  master's  desk,  and  said,  "  Please,  sir,  I  can't  bear  to  be 
a  liar, — I  let  off  the  squibs,"  and  burst  into  tears. 

The  master's  eye  glistened  on  the  self-accuser,  and  the 


134  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

unmerited  punishment  he  had  inflicted  on  his  school-mate 
smote  his  conscience.  Before  the  whole  school,  hand  in 
hand  with  the  culprit,  as  if  they  were  paired  in  the  confes- 
sion, the  master  walked  down  to  where  Christie  sat,  and 
said  aloud,  with  some  emotion,  "  Bonnie,  Bonnie,  lad,  he 
and  I  beg  your  pardon  ;  we  are  both  to  blame !" 

The  school  was  hushed  and  still,  as  older  schools  are  apt 
to  be  when  anything  true  and  noble  is  being  done, — so  still 
they  might  have  heard  Bonnie's  big  tear  drop  proudly  on 
his  copy-book,  as  he  sat  enjoying  the  moral  triumph  which 
subdued  himself  as  well  as  the  rest ;  and  when  for  want  of 
something  else  to  say  he  gently  cried,  "  Master  forever !" 
the  glorious  shout  of  the  scholars  filled  the  old  man's  eyes 
with  something  behind  his  spectacles,  which  made  him  wipe 
them  before  he  resumed  his  chair. 

559.  Relate  the  story  of  Bonnie  Christie. 

560.  Has  the  teacher  a  right  to  call  upon  a  pupil  to 
testify  as  a  witness  ? 

Yes,  when  the  interest  of  the  school  requires  it. 

561.  Why  did  Bonnie  refuse  to  tell? 

562.  Was  it  more  manly  to  tell  or  to  refuse  ? 

563.  What  kind  of  courage  had  Bonnie  Christie? 
See  question  No.  277. 

564.  Which  was  the  nobler  boy,  Bonnie  or  his  school- 
mate? 

565.  Should  a  pupil  ever  lie  to  shield  a  school-mate? 

566.  Wrould  an  honorable  boy  ever  permit  another  to  tell 
a  lie  to  shield  him  ? 

567.  Why  did  the  teacher  beg  Bonnie's  pardon  ? 

568.  Is  it  manly  and  brave  to  acknowledge  a  fault? 
Why? 

569.  When  we  have  insulted,  neglected,  or  injured  any 
one,  what  is  the  best  thing  to  be  done  ? 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  135 

It  is  best  to  confess  the  fault  and  ask  pardon  of  the 
person  injured. 

570.  When  a  person  confesses  a  fault  and  asks  pardon, 
what  should  we  do  ? 

Do  as  we  would  be  done  by,  forgive  and  forget. 

571.  What  should  we  always  remember? 

We  should  remember  that  we  too  have  faults,  and  be 
willing  to  forgive  as  we  would  wish  to  be  forgiven. 

The  following  three  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

572.  Are  you  a  tattler,  a  gossip,  or  a  slanderer  ? 

573.  Do  you  repeat   ill  reports  of  people  which  you 
would  not  dare  to  speak  in  their  presence  ? 

574.  In  all  your  language,  do  you  speak  without  par- 
tiality and  without  hypocrisy  ? 

HYPOCRISY. 

575.  What  is  the  meaning  of  hypocrisy? 

It  means  false  profession,  pretence,  or  deceit. 

576.  What  is  a  hypocrite  ? 

A  hypocrite  is  one  who  professes  to  be  what  he  is  not. 

577.  In  what  way  does  the  hypocrite  most  frequently 
exhibit  his  hypocrisy? 

In  professions  of  honesty  which  are  intended  to  deceive. 

578.  By  what  other  terms  is  the  hypocrite  known  ? 
The  hypocrite  may  be  a  liar,  a  thief,  a  gambler. 

A  LIE. 

579.  What  is  a  lie? 

A  lie  is  anything  said  or  done  to  deceive. 

580.  What  is  an  untruth  ? 

It  is  something  spoken  or  written  that  is  not  true. 

581.  When  is  an  untruth  not  a  lie? 

When  what  is  said  or  written  is  not  intended  to  deceive. 


136  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

582.  What  is  the  difference  between  an  untruth  and  a 
lie? 

An  untruth  may  be  stated  in  a  mistake,  a  lie  is  always 
told  to  deceive. 

583.  What  is  a  liar? 

A  liar  is  one  who  has  formed  the  habit  of  lying.  A  liar 
is  always  a  deceiver, — a  hypocrite. 

The  Old  Habit. 

The  following  story  is  told  of  Timothy  Coffin,  an  elo- 
quent lawyer  of  New  Bedford,  which  illustrates  the  old 
Quaker  spirit,  and  how  ready  it  was  to  bear  testimony 
against  sin : 

The  lawyer,  then  quite  young,  was  retained  in  a  case. 
Not  feeling  himself  prepared  to  plead,  he  was  desirous  of 
obtaining  a  postponement.  As  the  court  had  already  pro- 
tracted its  session  beyond  the  usual  period,  and  the  jury 
were  getting  impatient  to  be  released,  he  was  aware  that  it 
would  be  impossible  to  procure  such  a  postponement  unless 
he  could  allege  some  extraordinary  cause. 

He  had  a  lively  imagination,  and  quickly  formed  a 
plan. 

Rising,  with  his  handkerchief  to  his  eyes,  he  addressed 
the  court  in  great  apparent  emotion : 

"  May  it  please  the  court,  I  have  just  heard  of  the 
dangerous  illness  of  my  venerable  mother,  who  is  lying  at 
the  point  of  death.  Under  such  circumstances,  much  as  I 
regret  protracting  an  already  lengthened  session,  I  must  re- 
quest that  this  case  be  postponed.  My  feelings  are  so  power- 
fully agitated  that  I  should  be  unable  to  do  justice  to  the 
case,  feeling  as  I  do  that  my  proper  place  is  at  the  bedside 
of  my  mother." 

The  pathetic  appeal  was  successful.  Sympathy  for  the 
afflicted  counsel  pervaded  all  hearts,  and  the  jurors  were 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  137 

not  sufficiently  hard  of  heart  to  wish  the  business  of  the 
court  to  proceed  at  such  a  sacrifice  of  personal  feelings. 

The  judge,  a  tender-hearted  man,  was  about  to  grant 
the  request,  when  the  hush  was  broken  by  a  shrill  voice, 
which  proceeded  from  a  lady  in  a  Quaker  bonnet,  bending 
over  the  railing  of  the  gallery.  It  was  the  mother  of  the 
eloquent  counsel,  who,  so  far  from  being  at  the  point  of 
death,  came  without  her  son's  knowledge  to  hear  his 
argument. 

"  Timothy  !  Timothy  !"  she  exclaimed,  in  a  voice  which 
could  be  heard  all  over  the  house, — "  Timothy !  Timothy  ! 
how  often  have  I  chastised  thee  for  lying !" 

The  court-room  shook  with  laughter,  and  the  eloquent 
counsel  sat  down  completely  ashamed. 

The  case  was  not  postponed. 

584.  Relate  the  story  of  the  old  habit. 

585.  How  does  it  appear  that  he  was  a  habitual  liar? 

586.  What  character  would  such  a  man  have  among  men 
of  truth  and  honor? 

Lying  is  Lying. 

The  business  code  of  morals  is  often  low.  Men  who  are 
scrupulous  in  holding  to  truth  and  right  in  social  life  see 
no  harm  in  white  lies  in  business,  or  in  slight  departures 
from  integrity.  They  think  it  impossible  to  succeed  in 
obtaining  wealth  in  any  other  way. 

In  the  same  spirit,  customers  will  coin  lies  to  drive  a 
good  bargain.  Mr.  Owen  gives  a  striking  instance  of 
this  in  a  beautiful  woman  of  good  family,  in  Naples.  She 
saw  a  fine  pattern  of  moire  antique  for  a  dress  at  a  silk- 
mercer's  in  Toledo.  She  coveted  it,  and  determined  to 
have  it.  But  the  lowest  price  was  fifty- eight  ducats,  and 

M* 


138  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

she  was  reluctant  to  pay  it.  She  told  a  deliberate  lie  to 
cheapen  the  price,  and  this  is  the  way  she  told  it. 

u  Your  friend  Pietro,"  I  said  to  him,  "  has  a  piece  the 
very  same  as  this.  I  told  him  of  yours,  and  finally  he 
said  that  rather  than  I  should  go  away  I  might  have  a 
dress  from  his  for  fifty-four  ducats." 

"  Pardon  !  the  signora  must  have  mistaken.  The  man 
has  not  a  piece  of  moire  antique  of  this  quality  in  his  whole 
stock." 

"  He  had  not  yesterday,  but  the  piece  I  saw  was  from  a 
box  he  had  just  opened.  On  my  honor  it  was  just  as  good 
as  this;"  and  she  continued,  "The  man  was  just  fool 
enough  to  believe  me." 

Here  was  a  woman  of  high  family,  boasting  that  she  had 
made  a  good  bargain  by  telling  a  scandalous  falsehood,  and 
pledging  her  honor  to  its  truth. 

If  sellers  and  buyers  would  remember  that  lying  is  al- 
ways lying,  and  admits  of  no  apology ;  that  it  is  always 
mean,  and  base,  and  cowardly,  it  might  help  them  to  speak 
the  truth  under  all  circumstances. 

587.  Relate  the  story  of  the  woman  who  lied. 

588.  Had  such  a  woman  any  proper  idea  of  honor  ? 

589.  What  is  the  difference,  in  morals,  between  defraud- 
ing the  merchant  of  four  ducats  by  lying  and  the  stealing 
of  the  same  amount  ? 

590.  Would  a  lady  ever  dare  to  tell  a  lie  ? 

No,  never  !  A  lady  is  pure,  gentle,  easy  to  be  entreated, 
full  of  mercy  and  good  fruits,  without  partiality,  and  with- 
out hypocrisy. 

Tell-tale  Pumpkin-seeds. 

"  Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out"  was  never  better 
illustrated  than  in  this  incident,  related  by  an  old  man  of 
himself,  in  the  New  York  Sun: 


PARTIALITY  AND  HYPOCRISY.  139 

"  More  than  fifty  years  ago,  my  brother  George  and  I  were 
set  to  stick  pumpkin-seeds  between  the  hills  of  corn.  We 
both  wanted  to  go  a-fishing.  Our  father  told  us  we  might 
go  when  we  had  stuck  all  the  seeds  we  had. 

"  So  we  both  worked  as  smart  as  we  could.  But  the  sun 
was  sinking  fast  in  the  west,  and  we  decided  that  our  only 
chance  to  go  a-fishing  was  to  get  rid  of  the  pumpkin-seeds 
in  a  more  expeditious  manner.  Near  by  was  a  big  flat  stone  ; 
so  the  stone  was  raised  and  the  pumpkin-seeds  put  safely 
under  it,  and  the  stone  let  back  again,  to  prevent  all  future 
exposure.  Never,  we  thought,  had  two  boys  more  safely 
buried  their  secret. 

u  A-fishing  we  went,  and  had  good  luck ;  brought  home 
trout  enough  for  all.  Strange  to  say,  when  the  seeds  came 
up  between  the  hills  of  corn,  about  one-third  of  the  field 
had  no  vines.  One  Sunday  afternoon  we  strolled  with  our 
good  father  past  said  field,  and  around  said  flat  stone,  on 
every  side,  was  one  mass  of  pumpkin-vines  !  We  stood  con- 
founded. These  seeds  had  all  grown  out  from  under  the 
flat  stone,  and  our  fault  was  manifested !  The  thing  was 
so  ridiculous  our  kind-hearted  father  forgave  us,  on  our 
owning  up  to  the  truth,  and  the  whole  truth,  and  asking 
his  forgiveness.  It  was  to  us  a  warning  never  to  try  to 
conceal  a  fault." 

591.  Relate  the  story  of  the  tell-tale  pumpkin-seeds. 

592.  What  is  the  difference  between  a  lie  spoken  and  a 
lie  acted  ? 

593.  Can  those  who  act  a  lie  be  trusted  to  tett  the  truth  ? 

He  Could  Be  Trusted. 

Alfred  was  missing  one  night  about  sunset.  Mother  was 
getting  anxious,  for  she  always  wished  him  to  be  home  early. 
A  neighbor,  coming  in,  said  a  number  of  boys  had  gone  to 


140  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

the  river  to  swim,  and  he  thought  it  likely  Alfred  was  with 
them. 

"  No,"  said  his  mother,  "  he  promised  me  he  would  never 
go  there  without  my  leave,  and  he  always  keeps  his  word." 

But  seven  o'clock  came,  then  eight,  and  mother  was  still 
listening  for  Alfred's  step ;  but  it  was  half-past  eight  before 
his  shout  and  whistle  were  heard  when  he  ran  in  at  the  gate. 

"  Confess,  now,"  said  the  neighbor,  "  that  you  have  been 
to  the  river  with  other  boys,  and  so  kept  away  till  late." 

How  the  boy's  eyes  flashed,  and  the  crimson  mounted  to 
his  cheeks ! 

"  No,  sir ;  I  promised  my  mother  that  I  would  never  go 
there  without  her  leave,  and  do  you  think  I  would  tell  a 
falsehood  ?  I  helped  James  to  find  the  cows  that  had  strayed 
in  the  woods,  and  didn't  think  I  should  stay  so  late." 

"  I  think,"  said  the  neighbor,  turning  to  the  mother,  as 
he  took  his  hat  to  go  home,  "  there  is  a  comfort  in  store  for 
you  by  him.  Such  a  boy  as  that  will  make  a  noble  man." 

594.  Relate  the  story  of  the  boy  who  could  be  trusted. 

595.  How  should  every  honorable  person  feel  at  the 
charge  of  lying? 

596.  Which  should  we  dread  the  more,  the  telling  of  the 
lie,  or  the  shame  of  its  discovery  ? 

597.  Is  an  unfulfilled  promise  always  a  lie? 

An  unfulfilled  promise  is  always  a  lie  when  it  is  made 
with  an  intention  to  deceive. 

THE    PROMISE. 

Sacredness  of  a  Promise. 

An  eminent  British  statesman  is  said  to  have  traced  his 
own  sense  of  the  sacredness  of  a  promise  to  a  curious  lesson 
he  got  from  his  father  when  he  was  a  boy.  When  home 
for  the  holidays,  and  walking  with  his  father  in  the  garden, 


PARTIALITY  AND   HYPOCRISY. 


his  father  pointed  to  a  wall  which  he  intended  to  have 
pulled  down. 

"  Oh,"  said  the  boy,  "  I  should  like  to  see  a  wall  pulled 
down." 

"  Well,  my  boy,  you  shall,"  said  the  father.  . 

The  thing,  however,  escaped  his  memory,  and  during  the 
boy's  absence  a  number  of  improvements  were  being  made, 
and  among  them  this  wall  was  torn  down  and  a  new  one 
built  up  in  its  place.  When  the  boy  came  home  and  saw 
it,  he  said,  — 

"  Oh,  father,  you  promised  to  let  me  see  that  wall  torn 
down." 

Instantly  the  father  remembered  his  promise,  and  was 
deeply  pained  to  think  that  he  had  seemed  careless  about 
his  plighted  word. 

"  My  boy,"  he  said,  "  you  are  right.  I  did  promise,  and 
I  ought  not  to  have  forgotten.  It  is  too  late  now  to  do  just 
what  I  said  I  would,  but  you  wanted  to  see  a  wall  pulled 
down,  and  so  you  shall." 

And  he  actually  ordered  the  masons  up,  and  made  them 
pull  down  and  rebuild  the  new  wall,  that  as  nearly  as  pos- 
sible his  promise  might  be  made  good. 

"  It  cost  me  twenty  pounds,"  he  said  to  a  friend,  who 
was  bantering  him  about  it,  "  but,"  he  said,  "  if  it  had  cost 
a  hundred  I  should  have  thought  it  a  cheap  way  of  impress- 
ing on  my  boy's  mind  as  long  as  he  lives  the  importance 
that  a  man  of  honor  should  attach  to  his  plighted  word." 

598.  Eelate  the  story  of  the  sacredness  of  a  promise. 

599.  What  is  a  promise  ? 

It  is  an  agreement  to  do  or  not  to  do  a  particular  thing. 

600.  What  name  may  we  justly  get  if  we  are  not  careful 
to  keep  our  promises  ? 


142  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

His  Promise  to  Pay. 

One  day  a  little  son  of  a  well-known  bank-officer  in  Wall 
Street,  New  York,  lost  his  purse  while  coming  from  Central 
Park,  and  a  stranger,  seeing  his  discomfort,  paid  his  railroad 
fare,  three  cents.  The  boy,  thanking  him,  said,  "  If  you 
will  tell  me  your  name,  sir,  I  will  bring  it  to  you  to-morrow." 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  never  mind  about  it." 

The  boy  persisted,  saying  his  father  never  allowed  him 
to  run  in  debt. 

"  I  will  not  give  you  my  name,"  replied  the  gentleman, 
"  but  I  live  at  No. ,  on Street." 

The  next  morning  the  door-bell  rang  at  that  house,  and 
our  little  hero  told  the  amused  servant-maid  his  errand. 

"  Which  of  the  gentlemen  is  it  ?"  said  she ;  "  there  are 
several  in  the  family." 

The  boy  twisted  on  his  heel,  and,  after  a  moment's 
thought,  said, "  Have  you  a  photograph  book  in  this  house  ?" 

She  brought  it,  and,  after  a  moment's  thought,  he  said, 
pointing  to  one,  "  That's  my  man.  Please  give  him  three 
cents,  and  tell  him  the  boy  who  borrowed  it  in  the  cars 
yesterday  left  it  to  pay  his  debt." 

601.  Relate  the  story  of  the  boy's  promise  to  pay. 

602.  What  habit  might  be  expected  from  such  a  boy 
when  he  would  become  a  man  ? 

603.  What  is  our  duty  in  making  a  promise? 

It  is  our  duty  never  to  make  a  promise  unless, — 
1st.  We  intend  'to  keep  it. 

2d.  Unless  it  is  likely  that  we  shall  not  be  prevented 
from  keeping  it. 

604.  Should  we  ever  make  a  promise  to  do  wrong  ? 

As  we  have  no  right  to  do  wrong,  so  we  have  no  right 
to  promise  to  do  wrong. 


PARTIALITY  AND   HYPOCRISY.  143 

605.  If  we  promised  to  do  wrong,  would  it  be  better  to 
break  a  bad  promise  or  to  do  the  wrong  ? 

A  Promising  Shoemaker. 

Herr  Bismarck  teaches  good  lessons,  but  he  has  rough 
ways  of  doing  it.  A  Berlin  shoemaker,  who  was  prover- 
bial for  making  promises  which  he  did  not  keep,  was  taught 
to  be  punctual. 

The  man,  after  many  express  promises,  had  neglected 
him  on  several  occasions.  When  this  again  occurred,  the 
shoemaker  was  roused  at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning  by  a 
messenger  with  the  simple  question, — 

"  Are  Herr  von  Bismarck's  boots  ready  yet  ?" 

When  the  maker  said  "  No"  he  retired ;  but  in  ten  min- 
utes another  arrived.  Loud  rang  the  bell. 

"  Are  Herr  von  Bismarck's  boots  ready  yet  ?" 

"No." 

And  so  it  went  on  every  ten  minutes  until  the  boots  were 
ready  in  the  evening.  The  shoemaker,  no  doubt,  never 
disappointed  him  again. 

606.  Relate  Herr  von  Bismarck's  treatment  of  the  prom- 
ising shoemaker. 

607.  What  is  the  lesson  taught  by  Bismarck  ? 

A  Truthful  Indian. 

Wash-a-kie,  the  chief  of  the  Snake  Indians,  seems  one 
of  those  men  who  believe  in  the  sacredness  of  the  pledged 
word.  The  following  incident  is  related  concerning  him : 

This  noble  old  man,  in  1864,  when  some  of  his  young 
men,  under  a  rebellious  chief,  went  off  to  fight  the  whites, 
followed  them,  and  remonstrated  with  them ;  and,  when 
they  refused  to  listen  to  his  voice,  he  sat  down,  covered  his 
head  with  his  blanket,  and  mourned  for  them  as  for  the 


144  THE   PRIMER    OF  POLITENESS. 

dead.  The  old  chief  soon  had  his  revenge,  however,  for 
the  rebellious  band  was  caught  by  General  Conner,  and 
nearly  all  killed.  Those  who  escaped  eaine  back,  and  hum- 
bly asked  Wash-a-kie  to  receive  them  into  the  tribe  again ; 
but  he  sternly  refused,  and,  for  nearly  a  year,  would  not  see 
them.  At  last,  softened  by  the  petitions  of  his  people,  the 
old  chief  pardoned  the  rebellious  warriors,  deprived  their 
chief  of  his  authority,  received  them  back,  and  appointed 
a  new  chief  over  them.  All  this  was  done  from  a  convic- 
tion of  duty,  to  comply  strictly  with  the  terms  of  his  treaty, 
and  show  the  white  Father,  as  he  said,  that  he  "  would  be 
his  friend  at  home,  as  he  had  promised  in  the  council,  and 
as  the  white  Father  had  written  it  on  the  paper."  What 
a  lesson  to  our  government,  and  to  the  monarchs  of  Europe ! 
Where  is  the  king  who  might  not  gather  wisdom  from  this 
savage,  and  learn  to  stand  by  "  what  he  had  agreed  to  in 
council,  and  written  on  the  paper"  ? 

608.  Relate  the  story  of  the  truthful  Indian. 

609.  Which  was  the  more  worthy  of  respect,  the  Indian 
or  the  faithless  shoemaker  ?     Why  ? 

610.  Was  the  old  chief  to  blame  for  the  conduct  of  the 
young  men  ? 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

611.  Are  you  always  without  hypocrisy? 

612.  Do  you  always  tell  the  truth,  without  fear  or  favor? 

613.  What  is  your  promise  worth  ? 

614.  Do  you  ever  tell  a  lie  as  a  joke  in  fun? 

615.  Do  you  make  promises  and  forget  them? 

616.  Have  you  a  right  to  make  promises  and  forget 
them? 

617.  Do  you  keep  your  engagements? 

618.  Have  you  a  right  to  disappoint   others   in   your 
engagements  ? 


HABITS   OF  LABOR.  145 


HABITS  OP  LABOR, 

Working  for  an  Education. 

One  of  the  most  instructive  parts  of  Dr.  John  TodcPs 
biography  is  the  account  of  his  struggles  to  obtain  a  col- 
lege education.  He  had  nobody  to  encourage  or  to  help 
him,  but  his  own  intense  energy  triumphed  over  the  most 
formidable  difficulties.  He  walked  from  Charlestown  to 
New  Haven,  with  his  entire  wardrobe  under  one  arm  and 
his  entire  library  under  the  other. 

Beaching  New  Haven  early  in  the  afternoon,  he  was  at 
once  examined,  and  found  wholly  unprepared  to  enter,  but 
was  admitted  under  the  condition  of  making  up  his  defici- 
encies by  subsequent  study.  He  then  started  for  Guilford 
to  see  an  uncle,  having  three  cents  in  his  pocket,  but 
hungry  as  a  hawk,  having  tasted  nothing  since  breakfast. 
Two  cents  were  paid  for  toll  at  a  bridge.  When  night 
came  on,  he  lay  down  to  sleep  under  a  cedar-tree,  and 
woke  in  the  morning  stiff,  sore,  and  almost  frozen,  but 
with  energy  and  hope  unshaken. 

During  his  college  course  he  was  obliged  to  support 
himself  by  teaching,  and  in  various  other  ways;  but  in 
spite  of  imperfect  preparation  and  of  incessant  work  to 
pay  his  way,  he  was  one  of  the  best  scholars  in  his  class, 
and  graduated  with  high  honor.  His  success  proves  that 
a  resolute  will  can  conquer  all  obstacles. 

619.  Eelate  the  story  of  Dr.   Todd's  working  for  an 
education.  ^  _  -  -^ 

620.  Why  did  young  Todd  want  a  oollege  education  ? 
Because  he  wanted  to  be  fitted  for  the  greatest  useful- 

{WI7BRSIT71 

10 


146  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

621.  How  was  he  useful  when  he  became  a  man? 

He  was  successful  as  a  writer  of  books,  a  teacher,  and  a 
minister  of  the  gospel. 

Lyman  Beecher  as  a  Peddler. 

The  elder  Beecher  had  a  hard  time  getting  through  Yale 
College.  His  father  was  poor  and  could  give  him  little 
help,  and  but  for  a  favorite  uncle,  Lot,  who  thought  his 
nephew's  genius  ought  to  be  trained,  he  must  have  aban- 
doned college. 

In  his  senior  year  all  funds  had  given  out,  and  neither 
father  nor  uncle  could  supply  his  wants.  There  was  a 
butlery  connected  with  the  college,  at  which  cider,  beer, 
sugar,  pipes,  and  tobacco  were  sold  to  the  students. 
Beecher  managed  to  become  butler  near  the  close  of  his 
senior  year,  and  showed  himself  a  rare  business  manager. 

Instead  of  waiting  for  buyers  to  come  to  him,  he  went 
in  search  of  them.  He  bought  a  lot  of  watermelons  and 
cantaloupes,  and  wheeled  them  across  the  college  green  in  a 
wheelbarrow,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  students,  who 
took  them  at  once  at  his  prices.  Beecher  did  well  by  his 
peddling,  paid  off  all  his  debts  and  commencement  ex- 
penses, bought  a  new  suit  of  clothes  to  graduate  in,  and 
had  one  hundred  dollars  in  pocket  on  leaving  college. 

He  always  said  he  should  have  been  a  rich  man  if  he 
had  gone  into  business. 

622.  Relate  the  story  of  Rev.  Dr.  Beecher. 

623.  Why  did  he  think  he  would  have  been  a  rich  man 
if  he  had  gone  into  trading? 

624.  What  was  the  effect  of  his  independence  and  self- 
reliance  ? 


HABITS  OF  LABOR.  147 


Improving  Opportunities. 

Michael  Faraday  was  the  most  distinguished  chemist  of 
his  age,  and  the  most  popular  scientific  lecturer.  But  few 
men  have  been  less  favored  of  fortune,  or  have  depended 
more  on  their  own  energy  for  advancement.  He  became 
famous  only  because  he  made  the  most  of  his  opportunities. 

When  a  mere  boy  he  was  made  apprentice  to  a  book- 
binder. He  was  so  faithful  to  his  employer  that  he  was 
permitted  to  read  all  the  works  on  chemistry  that  came  to 
be  bound.  He  remembered  all  he  read,  and  was  eager  to 
prove  everything  by  experiments.  As  his  earnings  were 
small,  he  could  spare  only  a  few  pence  a  week  for  appara- 
tus. But  he  made  up  for  lack  of  money  by  his  own  in- 
genuity. He  invented  what  he  could  not  buy.  He  made 
an  electrical  machine  which  did  good  service,  having  only 
a  glass  vial  for  a  cylinder.  When  he  was  employed  as  .an 
assistant  by  Sir  Humphry  Davy,  he  soon  knew  all  that 
Sir  Humphry  could  teach  him,  and  performed  the  most 
difficult  experiments  as  successfully  as  Sir  Humphry. 

625.  Relate  the  story  of  Michael  Faraday. 

626.  Where  and  how  and  in  what  kind  of  company  did 
he  spend  his  evenings?     Why  ? 

627.  What  was  one  of  the  great  secrets  of  the  success 
of  Dr.  Todd,  Dr.  Beecher,  and  Professor  Faraday  ? 

They  were  willing  and  anxious  to  work. 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

628.  How  do  you  stand  in 'your  classes  in  school? 

629.  Are  you  working  to  secure  your  education,  or  are 
you  dependent  on  the  teacher  entirely  for  promotion  ? 

630.  Are  you  regular,  punctual,  studious,  good -tempered, 
kind,  and  faithful  ? 

631.  What  kind  of  books  and  papers  do  you  road  ? 


148  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

632.  What  kind  of  company  do  you  keep  ? 

633.  Where  do  you  spend  your  winter  evenings  ? 


PROPERTY. 

634.  What  is  meant  by  property  ? 

Property  means  anything  that  may  be  owned,  as  lands, 
goods,  or  money. 

635.  How  may  property  be  honestly  obtained  ? 
Property  may  be  obtained  by  labor,  by  purchase,  and  by 

gift. 

636.  What  is  the  first  and  best   means   of   obtaining 
property  ? 

By  honest  labor. 

637.  What  are  the  different  kinds  of  labor  called? 
They  are  called  manual  labor,  dextrous  labor,  and  skil- 
ful labor. 

638.  What  is  meant  by  manual  labor? 

Manual  labor  is  that  which  is  done  by  the  hands.     It 
requires  strength  of  body  to  perform  it. 

639.  What  is  meant  by  dextrous  labor  ? 

That  which  requires  skill  as  well  as  strength  is  called 
dextrous  labor. 

640.  What  is  meant  by  skilful  labor? 

It  is  labor  of  the  mind  as  well  as  of  the  body.     It  is 
thoughtful  labor. 

641.  What  kind  of  a  laborer  is  he  who  digs  a  cellar? 

642.  What  kind  of  a  laborer  is  a  blacksmith  who  shoes 
a  horse?     A  locomotive  engineer? 

643.  Under  which   class  would  the  preacher  and   the 
teacher  come  ?     Why  ?     An  architect  ? 

644.  Which  class  of  laborers  is  most  common? 

645.  Which  class  is  fewest  in  number  ? 

646.  Why  should  everybody  learn  to  labor  ? 


HABITS  OF  LABOR.  149 

1st.  In  order  to  preserve  health  of  body  and  of  mind. 
2d.  In  order  to  earn  an  honest  living. 

Washington  at  Dorchester. 

An  anecdote  of  Washington,  told  by  the  Kev.  Simeon 
Locke,  who  died  in  1831,  aged  eighty-three  years,  is  thus 
related.  Mr.  Locke,  who  was  a  respected  clergyman  of 
Hollis,  Maine,  was  a  frequent  visitor,  about  fifty  years  ago, 
at  a  friend's  house  in  Kennebunkport.  "  When  I  was 
a  boy,"  writes  Mr.  Andrew  Walker,  the  narrator,  "I  have 
heard  him  more  than  once  relate  the  following  anecdote, 
and  I  recollect  it  as  distinctly  as  if  told  yesterday.  He 
said, — 

" '  I  was  a  soldier  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and 
was  detailed,  with  others,  to  build  the  breastworks  on  Dor- 
chester Heights.  A  day  or  two  after  the  works  were  begun, 
General  Washington  rode  into  the  enclosure.  I  was  a  sen- 
tinel. Near  me  was  a  wheelbarrow  and  shovel ;  not  far  off 
was  an  idle  soldier. 

"'"Why  do  you  not  work  with  the  others?"  asked 
Washington,  addressing  the  soldier. 

" ' "  I  am  a  corporal,  sir,"  he  replied. 

"'The  general  immediately  dismounted,  and  marched  to 
the  barrow,  shovelled  it  full  of  sand,  wheeled  it  to  the 
breastworks,  dumped  his  load,  and  returned  the  empty 
barrow  to  its  place.  Without  uttering  a  word,  he  mounted 
his  horse  and  rode  away.'  " 

False  pride  he  despised,  and  he  was  always  ready  to  re- 
buke it. 

647.  Relate  the  story  of  Washington  at  Dorchester. 

648.  What  lesson  did  the  general  wish  to  teach  the  cor- 
poral ? 

649.  How  are  the  different  classes  of  laborers  paid  ? 


150  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

They  are  generally  paid  in  proportion  to  the  time  and 
labor  spent  in  learning  their  business. 

650.  Which  requires  the  most  labor,  time,  and  expense 
in  preparation,  the  manual,  the  dextrous,  or  the  skilful 
laborer  ?     Why  ? 

651.  To  which  of  the  three  classes  do  the  newspaper 
editor,  the  type-setter,  and  the  office-boy  belong  ? 

652.  What  is  necessary  for  success  in   each   of  these 
classes  ? 

Laborers  of  all  kinds,  to  be  successful,  must  be  faith- 
ful, honest,  painstaking,  and  true  to  those  who  employ 
them. 

653.  How  is  each  of  these  classes  respected  ? 

Classes,  like  individuals,  are  respected  according  to  their 
intelligence.  The  better  the  education  the  greater  the  in- 
fluence. 

The  Young  Chair-Makers. 

A  gentleman  hearing  one  remark  on  the  "  good  luck" 
of  certain  boys  in  obtaining  places,  replied  that  it  was  not 
"  luck"  that  gave  a  boy  his  rise  in  life,  but  something  else; 
and  then  he  told  the  following  story : 

"  My  father  was  a  chair  manufacturer.  He  had  a  very 
large  establishment,  and  employed  many  workmen  and 
boys.  He  used  to  pay  them  according  to  their  work, — that 
is,  the  number  of  chairs  each  made  was  counted  at  the  end 
of  the  week.  The  chairs  were  then  tried  or  tested  to  see 
if  they  were  well  made.  If  the  chair  '  passed/  or  came 
up  to  the  regulation,  then  the  man  or  boy  was  paid  for  it. 

"  In  our  employ  were  two  boys  whose  names  I  well 
remember, — Rufus  Loundes  and  Henry  Mallin.  Both 
worked  very  well,  and  hardly  ever  had  a  chair  fail. 

"  One  day,  father  wished  to  select  an  under-superintendent 
for  the  boys'  department. 


HABITS  OF  LABOR.  151 

"  *  Now,'  thought  father,  '  I  desire  an  honest,  conscien- 
tious boy.' 

"  And  how  do  you  think  he  went  about  finding  one  ?  He 
assembled  all  the  boys  in  a  large  room,  and  told  them  that, 
until  further  notice,  no  test  would  be  required ;  each  boy 
should  make  his  chairs,  and  at  the  end  of  the  week  obtain 
his  pay  according  to  the  number  made. 

" '  Now/  thought  father,  '  I  shall  discover  what  boys 
make  their  chairs  well  simply  for  pay,  and  what  ones  do 
their  work  for  conscience'  sake.' 

"  Father  was  as  good  as  his  word.  He  found  that  far 
more  chairs  were  made  than  usual,  but  he  paid  each  boy 
in  full ;  yet  he  carefully  marked  the  chairs,  and  had  those 
of  each  boy  placed  by  themselves.  At  the  end  of  three 
weeks  they  were  all  examined. 

"  It  was  discovered  that  all  the  chairs  of  Rufus  Loundes 
were  as  good  as  before ;  on  the  average  he  had  not  made  a 
larger  number,  but  they  were  just  as  strong  as  ever.  Half 
of  Henry  Mallin's  chairs  broke  down  at  the  first  trial, 
and  those  of  the  other  boys  were  more  or  less  defective. 
( Ah,'  said  father,  '  Rufus  is  my  man.'  He  became  under- 
superintendent,  then  superintendent,  and  afterwards  a 
partner." 

Doing  right  when  there  is  no  one  to  watch  you  but  your 
own  conscience  is  the  kind  of  self-respect  that  wins  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  others  and  the  smile  of  God. 

654.  Relate  the  story  of  the  young  chair-maker. 

655.  What  was  the  real  difference  between  these  boys  ? 

656.  Was  it  luck  that  gave  the  boy  his  promotion  ? 

657.  Is  the  man  who  works  simply  for  his  wages  or  the 
man  who  works  for  conscience  the  one  to  be  trusted  ? 


152  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Not  Ashamed  of  his  Trade. 

The  snobbishness  that  despises  labor  is  itself  most  des- 
picable. Many  a  noble  American  has  improved  the  oppor- 
tunity to  rebuke  it  in  courtly  society. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  while  Friend  Hopper  was  visiting 
a  wealthy  family  in  Dublin,  a  note  was  handed  to  him,  in- 
viting him  to  dine  on  the  following  day.  When  he  had 
read  it  aloud,  his  host  remarked, — 

"  These  people  are  very  respectable,  but  not  of  the  first 
circle.  They  belong  to  our  church,  but  not  exactly  to  our 
set.  The  father  is  a  mechanic." 

"Well,"  said  Isaac,  frankly,  "I  am  a  mechanic  myself. 
Perhaps  if  thou  hadst  known  that  fact  thou  wouldst  not 
have  invited  me  hither." 

"  Is  it  possible,"  exclaimed  the  host,  "  that  a  man  of  your 
standing  and  information  can  be  a  mechanic  ?" 

"  I  followed  the  business  of  a  tailor  for  many  years,"  re- 
turned the  guest.  "  Look  at  my  hands.  The  marks  of 
the  shears  are  there  still.  Some  of  the  mayors  of  Phila- 
delphia have  been  mechanics.  When  I  lived  there,  and 
while  working  at  my  trade,  I  often  walked  the  streets  arm- 
in-arm  with  the  chief  justice.  It  never  occurred  to  me  that 
either  was  thus  particularly  honoring  the  other,  and  I  don't 
think  it  did  to  him." 

The  Dublin  aristocrat  did  not  give  up  his  hold  upon  the 
popular  philanthropist,  though  it  is  doubtful  if  he  profited 
further  by  the  lesson  of  Yankee  equality  thus  presented. 

658.  Relate  the  story  of  the  man  who  was  not  ashamed 
of  his  trade. 

659.  Is  it  the  trade  or  occupation  that  dignifies  the  man 
or  the  character  of  the  man  that  is  worthy  of  respect? 
Why? 


HABITS  OF  LABOR.  153 

660.  How  should  laborers  of  every  class  be  treated  ? 
With  reference  to  their  personal  worth  rather  than  to 
their  trade. 

Alexis  and  the  Workmen. 

The  Grand  Duke  Alexis,  son  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia, 
uses  his  eyes  to  good  purpose.  During  his  walks  through 
the  Bridgeport  cartridge  factory  while  on  his  visit  here 
some  years  ago,  he  pointed  to  several  working-men,  and 
inquired  of  Governor  Jewell, — 

"  Are  these  men  what  you  call  in  this  country  the  com- 
mon people  ?" 

The  governor  replied  that  they  were  a  fair  specimen  of 
our  working-men. 

"But  do  you  mean  to  say  that  these  get  into  official 
positions  ?" 

"  Perhaps  not  any  of  these  men,"  rejoined  Governor 
Jewell,  "  but  men  of  their  class  do.  They  are  educated 
men,  most  of  them ;  that  is,  they  can  all  probably  read 
and  write,  and  most  of  them  take  and  read  the  news- 
papers." 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  instances  where  such  men  have 
actually  been  elected  to  office  ?"  again  queried  the  curious 
Alexis. 

"  Oh,  certainly,"  the  governor  said ;  "  I  myself  worked 
in  the  shop  as  a  tanner  till  I  was  twenty  years  of  age;" 
and  the  announcement  seemed  to  puzzle  the  duke  a  good 
deal. 

Here  was  the  governor  of  a  State,  as  well  dressed  and  as 
well  appearing  as  himself,  who  had  actually  worked  in  a 
shop,  and  this  man  was  welcoming  him  in  behalf  of  a  hun- 
dred thousand  voters ;  it  was  more  of  an  enigma  than  the 
young  duke  had  ciphered  on  previously;  but  during  his 
tour  through  the  country  he  ascertained  upon  inquiring 


154  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

that  very  many  of  the  public  men  here  have  come  direct 
from  the  workshop. 

In  Massachusetts,  Governor  Claflin  was  a  shoemaker, 
Senator  Wilson  was  a  cobbler  also,  and  General  Banks 
was  a  machinist.  In  every  State  just  such  self-made  men 
can  be  found.  They  fill  the  highest  places.  President 
Grant  was  a  tanner,  and  Vice-President  Colfax  a  printer. 
President  Lincoln  split  rails  for  a  living.  President  John- 
son was  a  tailor.  There  is  no  end  to  these  examples  of 
promotion. 

661.  Relate  the  story  of  the  visit  of  Alexis. 

662.  Why  was  the  young  duke  surprised  that  mechanics 
should  become  useful  public  men  ? 

Because  in  his  country  mechanics  are  not  promoted  to 
public  offices. 

663.  What  kind  of  workmen  were  Jewell,  Claflin,  Wil- 
son, Banks,  Grant,  Colfax,  Lincoln,  and  Johnson  ? 

664.  Why  do  so  many  persons  fail  to  become  dextrous 
or  skilled  workmen? 

1st.  Because  they  have  no  manly  ambition  to  excel. 

2d.  Because  they  are  idle  and  endeavor  to  shirk  honest 
work. 

3d.  Because  they  need  to  be  watched  as  they  work,  and 
on  this  account  they  are  never  promoted. 

665.  Why  does  the  skilful  laborer  generally  receive  a 
better  compensation  than  either  of  the  other  classes  ? 

Because  of  the  greater  labor  and  expense  in  securing 
that  kind  of  business. 


HABITS  OF  LABOR.  155 

Reverses  of  Fortune. 

In  our  country  the  reverses  of  fortune  come  thickly  and 
suddenly.  While  Mr.  Jewell  was  postmaster-general,  a 
lady  applied  to  him  for  a  clerkship.  Her  life  and  that  of 
Mr.  Jewell  illustrate  the  extreme  changes  that  come  to 
many  a  life. 

She  is  the  daughter  of  a  member  of  the  cabinet  under 
a  former  administration,  a  gentleman  of  large  means,  who 
lived  in  great  state  in  Washington,  and  subsequently  was 
minister  to  one  of  the  most  important  courts  of  Europe, 
where  also  he  maintained  an  expensive  establishment,  as 
his  great  wealth  justified  him  in  doing. 

That  was  a  score  of  years  ago.  The  war  so  greatly  re- 
duced his  fortune  that  his  children  are  now  compelled  to 
labor  for  their  own  support. 

When  Postmaster-General  Jewell  had  respectfully  lis- 
tened to  the  lady's  supplication,  he  said,  in  tones  of  deep 
sympathy, — 

"  It  makes  me  sad  for  you  to  ask  this  of  me.  Twenty 

years  ago,  when  I  was  a  mechanic,  I  was  in  ,  and 

your  father  was  minister  there.  I  desired  to  call  on  him, 
but  doubted  the  propriety  of  my  doing  so  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. Now  you,  his  daughter,  come  to  me  to  ask  a 
nine-hundred-dollar  appointment.  How  do  I  know  but 
what  in  twenty  years  my  daughter  may  be  compelled  to 
ask  a  similar  favor  of  one  of  my  successors  ?" 

666.  Relate  the  story  of  the  reverse  of  fortune. 

667.  Is  it  well  to  be  dependent  upon  others  for  support? 
No.     Every  person  should  be  so  educated  as  to  be  self- 
supporting  in  case  of  necessity. 

668.  Did  the  lady  spoken  of  above  when  a  girl  have 


156  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

any  reason  to  expect  that  she  would  be  compelled  to  earn 
her  own  living ?     Why? 

A  Hint  for  the  Girls. 

A  wood  engraver  being  asked  why  he  did  not  employ 
women,  replied,  "I  have  employed  women  very  often  and 
I  wish  I  could  feel  more  encouraged.  But  the  truth  is 
that  when  a  young  man  comes  to  me  and  begins  his  work 
he  feels  that  it  is  his  life's  business.  Wife,  family,  home, 
happiness,  are  all  to  be  carved  by  his  hand,  and  he  settles 
steadily  and  earnestly  to  his  labor,  determined  to  master  it, 
and  with  every  incitement  spurring  him  on.  He  cannot 
marry  until  he  knows  his  trade.  It  is  exactly  the  other 
way  with  the  girl.  She  may  be  as  poor  as  the  boy,  and  as 
wholly  dependent  upon  herself  for  her  living,  but  she  feels 
that  she  will  probably  be  married  by  and  by,  and  then  she 
must  give  up  her  wood-engraving.  So  she  goes  on  list- 
lessly. She  has  no  ambition  to  excel ;  she  does  not  feel 
that  her  happiness  depends  on  it.  She  will  marry,  and 
then  her  husband's  wages  will  support  her.  She  may  not 
say  so,  but  she  thinks  so,  and  it  spoils  her  work." 

669.  Relate  the  story  told  by  the  wood  engraver. 

670.  Why  are  girls  less  reliable  in  learning  dextrous 
and  skilled  labor  than  boys  ?     Should  it  be  so  ? 

671.  When  should  young  people  begin  to  prepare  to  be 
useful? 

They  should  begin  both  at  home  and  at  school  by  learn- 
ing to  study  and  to  work. 

672.  What   habits   may  be  learned  at  school  that  are 
necessary  to  the  successful  laborer  ? 

Boys  and  girls  may  learn  to  be  neat,  orderly,  careful, 
punctual,  attentive,  studious,  and  polite. 


HABITS  OF  ECONOMY.  157 

673.  What  kind  of  a  laborer  do  you  intend  to  be,  man- 
ual, dextrous,  or  skilful  ? 

674.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  on  the  subject  of 
labor? 

"  Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy 
might." 

675.  What  is  meant  by  doing  work  "  with  thy  might"  ? 
It  means  that  work  should  be  done  earnestly,  honestly, 

and  faithfully. 

676.  What  must  every  one  do  to  become  an  efficient 
workman  ? 

Work  without  complaining  and  without  being  watched 
or  driven. 

677.  What  wages  should  a  beginner  expect? 

The  wages  should  depend  upon  the  kind  of  labor  to  be 
performed.  The  beginner  in  dextrous  and  skilful  labor 
cannot  expect  any  wages  until  he  becomes  expert. 


HABITS  OP  ECONOMY. 

678.  What  is  meant  by  economy  ? 

It  is  the  careful  saving  of  time  and  money. 

679.  Why  do  so  many  persons  fail  in  business  ? 

1st.  They  fail  to  succeed  because  they  are  not  good  work- 
men. 

2d.  Because  they  do  not  save  what  they  earn. 

Difference  between  Saving  and  Spending. 

The  New  Orleans  Picayune  tells  the  story  of  a  printer 
who,  when  his  fellow-workmen  went  out  to  drink  beer, 
during  the  working  hours,  put  in  the  bank  the  exact 


158  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

amount  which  he  would  have  spent  if  he  had  gone  out 
to  drink. 

He  kept  to  this  resolution  for  five  years.  He  then  ex- 
amined his  bank-account  and  found  that  he  had  on  deposit 
five  hundred  and  twenty-one  dollars  and  eighty-six  cents. 
In  the  five  years  he  had  not  lost  a  day  from  ill  health. 
Three  out  of  five  of  his  fellow-workmen  had  in  the  mean 
time  become  drunkards,  were  worthless  as  workmen,  and 
were  discharged.  The  water-drinker  then  bought  out  the 
printing-office,  went  on  enlarging  his  business,  and  twenty 
years  from  the  time  he  began  to  put  by  his  money  was 
worth  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  story,  whether 
new  or  old,  teaches  a  lesson  which  every  young  mechanic 
should  lay  to  heart. 

680.  Relate  the  story  of  the  economical  workman. 

681.  What  are  the  lessons  it  teaches? 


Beginning  Badly. 

Hard  times  compel  economy,  and  they  suggest  a  very 
common  fault  among  young  people, — beginning  life  with 
extravagant  habits.  Most  men  who  acquire  large  wealth 
begin  prudently,  spending  little  and  saving  much.  The 
following  incident  has  a  moral : 

One  old  gentleman,  who  had  commenced  life  as  a  poor 
boy,  had,  by  mastering  the  difficult  steps  to  final  success, 
gained  considerable  wealth  as  a  merchant.  When  he  ar- 
rived at  old  age  he  retired  to  private  life,  to  live  in  ease 
and  comfort  on  his  income,  leaving  a  prosperous  business 
in  the  hands  of  his  son. 

In  three  years  the  young  man  was  bankrupt.  He  had 
failed  in  business,  and  was  compelled  to  take  a  position  as 
clerk  in  a  stranger's  store. 


HABITS  OF  ECONOMY.  159 

His  father  was  asked  why  it  was  that  in  a  business  in 
which  he  had  succeeded  so  well  his  son  had  failed. 

He  gave  this  characteristic  answer, — 

"  When  I  first  commenced  business  my  wife  and  I  lived 
on  porridge.  As  my  business  increased  we  had  better  food, 
and  when  I  could  afford  it  we  had  chicken.  But,  you  see, 
Johnny  commenced  with  the  chicken  first." 

682.  Eelate  the  story  of  beginning  badly. 

683.  How  may  we  waste  money  ? 

1st.  By  buying  things  we  do  not  need. 

2d.  By  buying  carelessly  and  going  in  debt. 

3d.  By  living  extravagantly. 

684.  Which  was  the  wiser  man,  the  father  who  built  up 
the  business  by  economy,  or  the  son  who  wasted  it  by  ex- 
travagance ?     Why  ? 

685.  Was  it  pride,  carelessness,  or  waste  that  ruined  the 
young  man  ? 

Helping  his  Wife. 

Cases  like  the  following  ought  to  be  more  frequent 
among  young  men  beginning  life  for  themselves : 

A  young  man  who  is  highly  prized  by  his  employer  for 
his  faithful  efficiency  at  his  desk,  and  admired  especially 
by  his  friends  for  his  thoughtful  kindness  to  his  wife,  was 
seen  about  five  o'clock,  the  other  morning,  washing  the 
windows  of  his  rented  home.  A  little  merriment  at  his 
expense  elicited  the  frank  response,  "  Never  mind.  I  can't 
afford  to  pay  a  washerwoman  to  do  it,  and  perhaps  if  I 
demonstrate  my  ability  to  take  care  of  a  house,  the  world 
will  let  me  own  one  some  time.77  And  so  he  will  some  time 
own  a  house,  and  be  able  to  hire  it  cleaned,  too. 

686.  Relate  the   story  of  the  young  man  helping  his 
wife. 


160  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

687.  Was  it  a  manly  employment  to  help  his  wife  in 
that  way  ? 

688.  Why  do  so  many  men  fail  in  business  ? 
1st.  Because  they  are  too  lazy  to  work. 

2d.  Because  they  are  too  proud  to  live  within  their 
means. 

3d.  Because  they  are  wasteful. 

How  Money  Grows. 

Wealth  comes  from  careful  savings  more  than  from 
large  earnings.  A  little  laid  by  every  year  and  put  at 
interest  soon  counts  up.  A  single  deposit,  even,  grows  to 
handsome  proportions. 

The  Taunton  Gazette  says,  "  Mr.  Le  Baron  Church  has 
shown  us  a  savings-bank  book  which  teaches  a  lesson  to 
those  who  despise  the  day  of  small  things.  A  deposit  of 
twenty  dollars  placed  for  him  by  his  grandfather  in  a 
savings-bank  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  in  1827,  and 
afterwards  increased  to  thirty  dollars  by  the  addition  of 
ten  dollars  in  1832,  now  amounts  to  the  snug  little  sum  of 
three  hundred  and  eighty-nine  dollars  and  sixty-three 
cents.  In  another  year  it  will  be  over  four  hundred 
dollars." 

689.  How  is  it  that  money  is  said  to  grow  ? 

690.  What  does  the  lesson  from  the  savings-bank  teach  ? 

691.  What  is  a  miser? 

One  who  saves  money  for  the  sake  of  the  money  alone, 
and  not  on  account  of  the  good  it  may  do. 

692.  Is  it  necessary  to  be  miserly  in  order  to  practise 
economy  ? 

1st.  No.  The  economical  person  buys  what  he  needs; 
the  miser  does  not. 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  161 

2d.  The  economical  man  saves  what  he  needs ;  the  miser 
saves  everything. 

693.  Which  is  the  more  to  be  admired  and  imitated, 
the  spendthrift  or  the  miser  ? 

Neither  is  to  be  admired  or  imitated/ 


HABITS  OP  BUSINESS. 

694.  What  is  a  bargain  or  contract? 

It  is  an  agreement  between  two  or  more  persons  to  do 
or  not  to  do  a  certain  thing  for  a  price. 

695.  Is  a  bargain  binding  on  the  persons  who  make  it? 
A  bargain,  like   a  promise,  cannot  be  broken  by  an 

honorable  man  or  woman. 

696.  May  a  bargain  be  changed  by  agreement? 
Yes,  if  both  parties  are  willing. 

697.  Can  one  person  compel  another  to  make  a  bargain  ? 
No,  for  then  it  would  not  be  an  agreement. 

698.  Is  a  contract  binding  when  one  of  the  parties  is 
compelled  to  make  it? 

No ;  both  parties  must  agree  to  the  contract  when  it  is 
made. 

His  Word  his  Bond. 

Among  the  characteristics  of  a  good  man  described  in 
the  fifteenth  Psalm  is  this :  "  He  that  sweareth  to  his  own 
hurt,  and  changeth  not."  The  late  Samuel  Brown,  Esq.,  a 
merchant  of  Boston,  who  once  owned  "Brown's  Wharf" 
and  a  large  amount  of  real  estate,  now  the  property  of  the 
Boston  Gas-Light  Company,  seems  to  have  been  a  man 
who  answered  the  psalmist's  idea.  A  correspondent  of  the 
Traveller  tells  this  incident : 

o*  11 


162  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

"  When  the  elder  Quincy  was  mayor,  with  his  wonderful 
sagacity  he  saw  the  necessity  of  moving  the  almshouse  and 
the  house  of  correction  (then  on  Leverett  Street)  to  South 
Boston.  Mr.  Brown  owned  a  very  large  vacant  estate 
where  the  buildings  now  stand,  and  Mr.  Quincy  called 
upon  him  and  stated  his  purpose  to  induce  the  city  govern- 
ment to  remove  the  institutions  to  South  Boston,  and  asked 
the  price  of  the  estate  referred  to.  The  reply  was  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Quincy  said  that  would  do,  and 
asked  thirty  days'  refusal  and  a  bond  on  it,  in  order  to  en- 
deavor to  persuade  the  city  council  to  agree  to  the  measure. 
Mr.  Brown  replied  that  he  should  give  no  bond,  as  he  said 
his  word  was  his  bond  always.  The  mayor  took  his  word, 
and  in  twenty-eight  days  had  obtained  the  proper  authority, 
and  again  waited  on  Mr.  Brown,  saying  that  he  had  come 
to  complete  the  sale  of  that  land. 

"  <  What  land  ?'  said  Mr.  Brown. 

" ( Why,  the  South  Boston  land  we  spoke  of/  said  the 
mayor. 

"  '  At  what  price  ?'  asked  the  former. 

"  '  Thirty  thousand  dollars/  replied  the  latter; '  the  price 
agreed  upon." 

" '  Did  I  say  that  amount,  sir  ?' 

«'  You  did.' 

"  '  Have  you  any  writing  to  that  effect  ?' 

u '  No,  sir,  none/ 

"  '  Well/  said  Mr.  Brown,  i  since  you  were  here  I  have 
been  offered  sixty  thousand  dollars  cash  for  it,  and  can  you 
expect  me  to  sell  it  for  thirty  thousand  dollars  to  the  city?' 

"  '  I  do/  replied  Mr.  Quincy,  '  because  you  agreed  to/ 

" (  Have  you  any  proof  of  that  ?' 

"  '  Yes,  I  am  the  witness/ 

"  '  But  you,  being  an  interested  party,  can't  be  a  witness. 
Have  you  any  other  witness  or  proof,  and  do  you  ask  me 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  163 

to  refuse  sixty  thousand  dollars  for  the  land  and  sell  it  to 
the  city  for  thirty  thousand  dollars  ?' 

"^Ido/ 

"  '  You  have  no  bond  for  it,  have  you,  Mr.  Quincy  ?' 

" '  None,  sir,  whatever/  replied  the  mayor,  stretching 
himself  up  with  great  dignity, — (  none  whatever  but  your 
word,  and  that  you  said  was  your  bond.' 

" '  And/  replied  Mr.  Brown,  stretching  himself  up  with 
equal  dignity,  '  so  it  is.  My  word  is  my  bond,  and  for 
thirty  thousand  dollars  the  land  is  yours/ 

"  And  it  was.  The  buildings  were  erected  upon  that 
estate,  and  there  they  stand,  a  monument  to  Mr.  Samuel 
Brown's  mercantile  integrity. 

"  To-day  that  land  is  worth  millions  of  dollars  to  this  city. 
Can  any  person  but  feel  proud  of  this  instance  of  sterling 
integrity?  In  those  times  thirty  thousand  dollars  was  a 
fortune,  but  the  world  could  not  bid  high  enough  to  bribe 
Samuel  Brown  to  a  mean  action." 

699.  Relate  the  story  of  the  man  whose  word  was  as 
good  as  his  bond. 

700.  What  is  a  bond  ? 

It  is  an  agreement  in  writing. 

701.  Does  an  honest  man  require  any  proof  to  make  him 
stand  to  his  bargain  ? 

702.  If  Mayor  Quincy  had  delayed  closing  the  bargain 
more  than  thirty  days,  would  Mr.  Brown  have  been  bound 
to  sell  the  land  for  thirty  thousand  dollars?     Why? 

703.  If  a  farmer  agrees  to  deliver  his  corn  to  a  merchant 
at  thirty  cents  a  bushel,  and  afterwards  another  merchant 
offers  forty  cents,  what  should  the  farmer  do  ? 

704.  If  a  merchant  promise  to  pay  a  farmer  thirty  cents 
a  bushel  for  his  corn,  and  finds  that  he  can  buy  of  other 
farmers  for  twenty-five  cents,  what  should  he  do  ? 


164  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

705.  If  a  boy  has  agreed  to  work  for  a  man  for  one 
hundred  dollars  a  year,  and  another  man  offers  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars  a  year,  what  should  he  do  in  honor 
and  good  faith  ? 

706.  What  care  should  every  one  take  before  he  makes 
a  bargain  ? 

1st.  He  should  carefully  consider  whether  he  can  execute 
his  contracts. 

2d.  He  should  make  the  terms  of  the  contract  so  clear 
that  there  need  be  no  dispute  about  their  meaning. 

A  High  Sense  of  Honor. 

The  Duke  of  Wellington  had  a  high  sense  of  honor  in 
all  money  dealings,  and  would  suffer  none  of  his  agents  to 
do  a  mean  thing  in  his  name.  His  steward  once  bought 
some  land  adjoining  his  country  estate,  and  was  boasting 
of  having  made  a  fine  bargain,  from  the  straitened  circum- 
stances of  the  seller 

"  What  did  you  pay  for  it  ?"  asked  the  duke, 

"  Eight  hundred  pounds,"  was  the  answer,, 

"  And  how  much  was  it  worth  ?" 

"  Eleven  hundred  pounds,"  said  the  steward,  rubbing  his 
hands  in  glee  at  thought  of  the  good  bargain. 

"  Then  take  three  hundred  pounds  and  carry  them  to  the 
seller  with  my  compliments,  and  don't  ever  venture  to  talk 
to  me  of  cheap  land  again." 

The  steward  was  confounded,  and  could  scarcely  credit 
his  own  ears.  The  idea  that  any  one  could  refuse  to  profit 
•by  a  sharp  bargain,  and  throw  money  away  in  paying  more 
than  was  agreed  on,  was  hard  for  him  to  comprehend. 

707.  Relate  the  story  of  the  Duke  of  Wellington's  high 
sense  of  honor., 

708.  Did  the  steward  do  right  to  take  advantage  of  a 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  165 

man's  necessities  and  get  the  property  for  what  he  knew 
was  less  than  its  worth  ? 

709o  Was  it  right  for  the  duke  to  pay  the  three  hundred 
pounds  contrary  to  the  terms  of  the  contract  ? 

Is  Your  Note  Good? 

A  Boston  lawyer  was  called  on  a  short  time  ago  by  a  boy, 
who  inquired  if  he  had  any  waste  paper  to  sell.  The  law- 
yer had  a  crisp,  keen  way  of  asking  questions,  and  is,  more- 
over, a  methodical  man.  So  pulling  out  a  large  drawer,  he 
exhibited  his  stock  of  waste  paper. 

"  Will  you  give  me  twenty-five  cents  for  that?" 

The  boy  looked  at  the  paper  doubtingly  a  moment,  and 
offered  fifteen  cents. 

"Done!"  said  the  lawyer,  and  the  paper  was  quickly 
transferred  to  the  bag  of  the  boy,  whose  eyes  sparkled  as 
he  lifted  the  weighty  mass. 

Not  till  it  was  safely  stowed  away  did  he  announce  that 
he  had  no  money. 

"  No  money !  How  do  you  expect  to  buy  paper  without 
money  ?" 

Not  prepared  to  state  exactly  his  plan  of  operations,  the 
boy  made  no  reply. 

"  Do  you  consider  your  note  good  ?"  asked  the  lawyer. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"  Very  well ;  if  you  say  your  note's  good,  I'd  just  as 
soon  have  it  as  the  money;  but  if  it  isn?t  good  I  don't 
want  it." 

The  boy  affirmed  that  he  considered  it  good ;  whereupon- 
the  lawyer  wrote  a  note  for  fifteen  cents,  which  the  boy 
signed  legibly,  and,  lifting  the  bag  of  papers,  trudged  oif. 

Soon  after  dinner  the  little  fellow  returned,  and,  pro- 
ducing the  money,  announced  that  he  had  come  to  pay  his 
note. 


166  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

"  Well,"  said  the  lawyer,  "  this  is  the  first  time  I  ever 
knew  a  note  to  be  taken  up  the  day  it  was  given.  A  boy 
that  will  do  that  is  entitled  to  note  and  money,  too.7'  And, 
giving  him  both,  sent  him  on  his  way  with  a  smiling  face 
and  a  happy  heart. 

710.  Relate  the  story  of  the  boy  who  bought  the  paper. 

711.  How  much  better  was  the  honest  boy's  note  than 
his  promise? 

712.  Why  is  it  well  to  put  agreements  in  writing? 
Even  honest  people  may  forget  the  terms  of  a  contract, 

and  thus  misunderstand  each  other. 

713.  Is  it  right  for  persons  to  make  a  profit  in  their 
bargains? 

Every  trader  has  a  right  to  a  profit  in  his  bargains  which 
are  honestly  and  fairly  made,  but  no  one  has  a  right  to  take 
an  advantage  to  the  injury  of  his  neighbor. 

714.  What  are  some  of  the  rules  that  should  govern 
persons  in  trade? 

The  moral  law  says,  1st.  "  Thou  shalt  not  defraud  thy 
neighbor,  neither  rob  him. 

2d.  Ye  shall  not  steal,  neither  deal  falsely,, 
3d.  Neither  lie  to  one  another." 

Doing  Business  Honestly. 

One  marked  trait  in  the  business  morals  of  the  late  A. 
T.  Stewart,  the  great  dry-goods  merchant,  was  his  honesty 
to  his  customers.  It  may  have  been  due  to  policy,  or  it 
may  have  resulted  from  an  ingrain  morality, — we  prefer  to 
believe  the  latter, — but  it  was  the  corner-stone  of  his  success. 
An  incident  told  in  the  New  York  Independent  illustrates 
how  early  and  thoroughly  he  laid  that  corner-stone  : 

"  A  few  years  ago,  Mr.  Stewart,  while  taking  me  through 
his  down-town  store,  and  pointing  out  the  different  depart- 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  167 

raents  of  that  immense  establishment,  was  induced  by  a 
little  incident  to  remark  that  he  remembered  distinctly  the 
first  piece  of  goods  he  sold  after  opening  his  store  on  Broad- 
way, nearly  fifty  years  before. 

" '  I  really  knew  nothing  about  dry  goods  then/  said  Mr. 
Stewart,  '  but  I  had  bought  some  cheap  calicoes,  and  had 
hung  a  piece  out  at  the  door  to  attract  customers,  as  was 
the  way  in  those  days.  My  only  assistant  was  a  young 
man  who  had  been  a  salesman  in  Division  Street. 

" '  The  first  customer  who  came  in  was  a  woman,  who 
asked  the  price  of  the  calico,  and  then  asked  if  it  would 
wash. 

" ' "  Certainly  it  will,"  said  the  young  man ;  and  with 
that  assurance  the  customer  made  a  purchase. 

" '  When  she  had  left  the  store  I  said  to  the  salesman, 
"  Why  did  you  say  that  calico  would  wash,  when  you  know 
very  well  that  it  won't?" 

"'"Why,"  said 'the  fellow,  "  we  always  do;  for  if  we 
didn't  we  couldn't  sell  any  goods." 

" ' "  Now,  mind  what  I  say,"  I  said  to  my  salesman,  "  if 
you  ever  again  make  a  misrepresentation  to  a  customer,  I 
will  discharge  you  immediately.  If  I  cannot  do  business 
honestly,  I  will  give  up  and  do  something  else." ' " 

715.  Relate  the  story  of  A.  T.  Stewart. 

716.  Which  had   the   true   principle  of  honesty,  Mr. 
Stewart  or  his  clerk  ? 

717.  Is  it  necessary  to  success  in  business  to  be  a  hypo- 
crite and  dishonest  ?     Why  ? 

718.  Why  was  it  bad  policy  to  say  the  calico  would  wash 
when  it  would  not? 

"  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  for  the  woman  being  de- 
ceived once  would  not  trade  there  again. 

719.  What  should  the  character  of  a  business  man  be? 


mi:  ruiMKK  or 


How  She  Managed  R. 
"What  other  persons  call  rascality  I  call  shrewdness,* 

Tin-  remark  \va.s  made  l»v  :iu  old  hanker,  notorious  lor  his 
sellishne •  s  and  readme  -  >  to  take  advantage  of  all  \villi 
\\liom  he  dealt.  He  died  n  hankrnpt,  -emued  and  unla 
meiited.  The  I'rovidenee  Journal  (ells  a  story  of  a  lady, — 
:>(>  called,  \\liicli  evhihits  her  a.^  acliii;1,  upon  (he  hankers 
tnuli4  of  moral  : 

tl  *  Is  WV   hut    done  V*    imjiiired    a    t'old  looUin^    lad\    al  a 
Chieaj-o    millinery     e.Nlahlislunent     one     pleasant     day     this 

WtH'L 

"  *  Yes,  malu i  n , '  p . .  1  i  t  oly  responded  the  shopkeeper.    '  It 

\vill  he  hei'e  in  a   moment.' 

\  i  ml  .-.oon  hronjdit  up  the  honmM,  and  while  tho 

in  l«'iii(i    \\  a  -  dtil\    iiispeetiii!-   it.  the  sUu'i1  propnel  re>^  \c\\- 
tlll-ed  (o  int|iiire, 

"  *  1  lo\v  do  \  on  like  it.  ma'am  ?' 

M4It  is  simply  horrid/  was  the  reply. 

'* '  But  it  is  just  as  you  ordered  it/  pleaded  the  maker  of 

head  \vear. 

<c<YeS,80mo(hiiis';  as  1  ordered.'  NMIS  the  sliort  and  siuvr- 

ill;'    ail:.\\  er. 

"  '  1  am  real!  hut 

WIM'«'11,  neve!  mind.'  hroke  in  the  huyer,  \\ith  set    lips; 
'  \\  hat's  th«-  evpense1/' 

tn  A-b-o-u-t seven  dollars,  I  guess,1  saitl  tl»esh..p  \\oman, 

timidly. 

"The  money  was  paid  over,  uud  the  honnet  ordered  up 

t,.    the    h.Mi'-e,    \\heii    the    pnreha.ser    pianeed    out    upon    the 
Ntivot.aml  imme.liately  e\elanned  to  ail  aOOOinpain  iiii;  la.ly 

Wend,— 
"« Isn't  it  ju.ie.tly  lovely?1 


,, 

end,  'it's  ravishing!  but  i 
- 

aimed  she  of  ilu  'Why, 

if  I   had  let  her  know  how  much  1   like  .at 

woman  would  certainly  have  charged  me  fill 
but  now,  you  see,  1'vi 

o  other  woman  said  that  she  had  never  thought  of 
thai." 

T20,  Relate  the  story  of  how  she  managed  it 

:odevei\  , 
•.-kin   for  customers  to  deceive  merch:. 

question  No.  ;>14. 

\YonV.  heat  a  shop-keeper  in  the  prid 

ha:  ! 

AY  hat  is  the  difterenev  Ixnween  rascality  and  shivwd- 

:i>lu»nesty,h\  •  .-.id  meanness.  Shrewd- 

s  means  knowhslgv  of  business,  smartness  in  kno\\ 
when  and  how  and  with  whom  to  trade. 

How  may  a  business  man  be  shrewd  and  at  the 
same  time  not  rasi-ally  ? 

\Ya>  Mr.  A.   T.   Stewart   shrewd  or  raseally  when 
he  n^provixl  hi>  i 


A  IMS* 

The  following  amxxlote  illustrates  two  very  common 
namely  :  a  mean,  suspicious  man  is  apt  to  make  a   fool   of 
himself,  and  the  folly  of  a  tool  cannot   stand  against   good 
MM* 

Mr.  -  ,  of  a  certain  town  in  Vermont,  i>  not   distiu- 
>hed  for  liivrality.     His  ruling  p-  fear  of  being 


170  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

cheated.  The  loss,  whether  real  or  fancied,  of  a  few  cents 
would  give  him  more  pain  than  the  destruction  of  an  entire 
navy. 

He  once  bought  a  large  cake  of  tallow  at  a  country  store, 
at  ten  cents  a  pound.  On  breaking  it  to  pieces  at  home  it 
was  found  to  contain  a  large  cavity. 

This  he  considered  a  disclosure  of  cupidity  and  fraud. 
He  drove  furiously  back  to  the  store,  entering  in  great 
excitement,  bearing  the  cake  of  tallow,  exclaiming,  vehe- 
mently,— 

"  Here,  you  rascal,  you  have  cheated  me !  Do  you  call 
that  an  honest  cake  of  tallow?  It  is  hollow,  and  there 
ain't  near  so  much  as  there  appeared  to  be.  I  want  you  to 
make  it  right." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  merchant ;  "  I'll  make  it  right. 
I  didn't  know  the  cake  was  hollow.  You  paid  ten  cents  a 

pound.  Now,  Mr. ,  how  much  do  you  suppose  the 

hole  will  weigh?" 

728.  Relate  the  story  of  the  cake  of  tallow  with  a  hole 
in  it. 

729.  Which  was  the  honest  man  in  that  transaction  ? 

730.  Was  the  man  who  bought  the  tallow  shrewd  or 
rascally  ? 

731.  Is  it  right  to  be  suspicious  of  every  one? 

A  business  man  should  be  prudent,  but  neither  too  suspi- 
cious nor  too  confiding. 

732.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  about  weights  and 
measures  ? 

It  says,  "  Ye  shall  do  no  unrighteousness, — 

1st.  In  judgment. 

2d.  In  mete-yard. 

3d.  In  weights  and  measures. 

4th.  Just  balances  and  weights  shall  ye  have." 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS. 


HIRING   LABOR. 

733.  What  kind  of  labor  is  hired  for  money  ? 
All  kinds, — manual,  dextrous,  and  skilled. 

734.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  of  the  laborer's  hire  ? 
It  says,  "  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire." 

735.  How  many  parties  must  there  be  to  a  hiring  con- 
tract? 

There  must  be  two, — one  to  work  and  one  to  pay. 

736.  What  is  a  contract  ? 
See  question  No.  694. 

737.  In  a  contract  for  labor  what  is  each  party  pledged 
to  give  the  other  ? 

One  is  pledged  to  give  time  and  labor,  the  other  is 
pledged  to  pay  for  the  time  and  labor. 

Wheeled  Himself  into  Fortune. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  a  prominent  railway 
corporation,  recently  held  in  Boston,  there  were  present 
two  gentlemen,  both  up  in  years,  one,  however,  consider- 
ably the  senior  of  the  other.  In  talking  of  the  old  times 
gone  by,  the  younger  gentleman  called  the  attention  of  his 
friends,  and  told  a  pleasant  little  story,  which  should  be 
read  with  profit  by  every  poor,  industrious,  and  striving 
lad.  We  use  his  own  language : 

"  Nearly  half  a  century  ago,  gentlemen,  I  was  put  upon 
the  world  to  make  my  living.  I  was  stout,  willing,  and 
able,  considering  my  tender  years,  and  secured  a  place  in  a 
hardware  store,  to  do  all  sorts  of  chores  required.  I  was 
paid  seventy-five  dollars  a  year  for  my  services.  One 
day,  after  I  had  been  at  work  three  months  or  more,  my 
friend  there,  Mr.  B.,  who  holds  his  age  remarkably  well, 
came  into  the  store  and  bought  a  large  bill  of  shovels  and 


172  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

tongs,  sad-irons  and  pans,  buckets  and  scuttles,  for  he 
was  to  be  married  next  day,  and  was  supplying  his  house- 
hold in  advance,  as  was  the  groom's  custom  in  those  days. 
The  articles  were  packed  on  the  barrow  and  made  a  load 
sufficiently  heavy  for  a  young  mule.  But,  more  willing 
than  able,  I  started  off,  proud  that  I  could  move  such  a 
mass  on  the  wheelbarrow.  I  got  on  remarkably  well  till 
I  struck  the  mud  road,  now  Seventh  Avenue,  leading  to 
my  friend  B.'s  house.  There  I  toiled  and  tugged,  and 
tugged  and  toiled,  and  could  not  budge  the  load  up  the 
hill,  the  wheel  going  its  full  half-diameter  in  the  mud 
every  time  I  would  try  to  propel  forward.  Finally,  a 
good-natured  Irishman,  passing  by  with  a  dray,  took  my 
barrow,  self  and  all,  on  his  vehicle,  and  in  consideration  of 
my  promise  to  pay  him  a  '  bit/  landed  me  at  the  house. 

"  I  counted  the  articles  carefully  as  I  delivered  them, 
and  with  my  empty  barrow  trudged  my  way  back,  whis- 
tling with  glee  over  my  triumph  over  difficulty.  Some 
weeks  after  I  paid  the  Irishman  the  '  bit/  and  never  got  it 
back  from  my  employers.  But  to  the  moral.  A  merchant 
had  witnessed  my  struggles,  and  how  zealously  I  labored 
to  deliver  that  load  of  hardware ;  he  even  watched  me  to 
the  house,  and  saw  me  count  each  piece  as  I  landed  it  in 
the  door-way.  He  sent  for  me  the  next  day,  asked  my 
name,  told  me  he  had  a  reward  for  my  industry  and  cheer- 
fulness under  difficulty,  in  the  shape  of  a  five-hundred- 
dollar  clerkship  in  his  establishment.  I  accepted,  and 
now,  after  nearly  half  a  century  has  passed,  I  look  back 
and  say,  I  wheeled  myself  into  all  I  own,  for  that  reward 
of  perseverance  was  my  grand  stepping-stone  to  fortune." 

The  speaker  was  a  very  wealthy  banker,  a  man  of  influ- 
ence and  position,  and  one  universally  respected  for  many 
good  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  Boys,  take  a  moral 
from  this  story.  You  do  not  know  how  many  eyes  are 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  173 

upon  you  to  discover  whether  you  are  sluggish  and  care- 
less, or  industrious  and  willing. 

738.  Relate  how  the  young  man  wheeled  himself  into 
fortune. 

739.  What  were  the  qualities  that  made  that  young  man 
successful  in  business  ? 

740.  What  was  the  secret  of  his  promotion  ? 

741.  Should  promotion  ever  be  expected  without  faith- 
ful, honest,  painstaking  work?     Why? 

742.  What  are  the   terms   used   for  the   payment  of 
laborers  ? 

The  teacher  is  paid  tuition,  the  lawyer  is  paid  fees,  the 
minister  receives  a  salary,  the  day-laborer  receives  hire, 
but  the  whole  may  be  summed  up  in  the  word  wages. 

743.  When  should  laborers  be  paid  ? 
Always  promptly  according  to  the  contract. 

744.  Why  should    laborers  in  the   same   class   receive 
different  rates  of  wages  ? 

Because  they  have  different  degrees  of  skill  and  faith- 
fulness. 

745.  Why  are  the  wages  of  labor  not  the  same  at  dif- 
ferent times  ? 

When  laborers  are  scarce,  wages  are  high ;  when  laborers 
are  plenty,  wages  are  low. 

746.  Should  employers  take  advantage  of  laborers,  to 
make  them  work  for  less  than  their  labor  is  worth  ? 

747.  Should  laborers  take  advantage  of  their  employers, 
and  charge  more  for  labor  than  it  is  worth  ? 

748.  What  rule  will  apply  to  all  such  cases  ? 
Repeat  the  Golden  Rule. 

p* 


174  THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 


A  Sensible  Miner. 

Mr.  Charles  B.,  a  farmer  of  Washington  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, was  an  Englishman,  who  emigrated,  when  a 
young  man,  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  making  it  his 
home.  He  was  a  coal-miner,  and,  for  the  purpose  of 
finding  employment,  sought  the  coal  mines  of  Western 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  an  uneducated  man,  but  he  was 
determined,  by  the  help  of  his  thrifty  wife,  to  win  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  his  neighbors  by  his  industry 
and  frugality.  He  rented  a  small  piece  of  ground  with 
his  house,  which  he  and  his  wife  worked  together  as  a 
garden  and  potato-patch  when  he  was  not  employed  in  the 
mine.  He  was  a  man  of  good  habits,  wasting  neither  his 
time  nor  his  money  in  bad  company  and  foolish  amuse- 
ments. He  could  not  afford  to  be  idle,  so,  when  by  accident 
his  arm  was  broken  and  he  could  not  work  in  the  mine, 
he  went  into  a  harvest-field  and  raked  hay  with  one  hand 
for  twenty-five  cents  a  day.  When  wages  were  high  he 
saved  his  money ;  when  wages  were  low,  he  thought  it 
fortunate  when  he  could  pay  expenses.  Thus  by  habits 
of  honest  labor  and  economy  he  contrived  to  save  enough 
money  in  the  course  of  some  years  to  buy  him  a  fine  farm, 
where  he  now  lives  in  comfort,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  his 
neighbors  and  the  independence  of  a  well -furnished  home. 
It  was  a  principle  with  him  never  to  waste  time  when  he 
could  find  work ;  never  to  quit  work  because  he  could  not 
get  the  highest  wages;  never  to  drink  spirits,  and  always 
to  save  his  money.  Of  course,  there  were  those  who 
made  fun  of  his  hard  work  and  economy,  but  now  he  is 
able  to  point  to  his  home  and  his  farm  as  the  result  of  his 
shrewdness,  while  they  have  nothing  to  show  for  their 
years  of  misspent  time  and  wasted  money. 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  175 

749.  Relate  the  story  of  how  Mr.  B.,  the  miner,  made 
his  farm. 

750.  Should  every  one  be  his  own  judge  as  to  what 
wages  he  is  willing  to  work  for  ?     Why  ? 

751.  When  work  is  scarce  and  wages  are  low,  is  it  best 
to  take  the  low  wages,  or  quit  work  and  get  no  wages  ? 

752.  Has  one  person  a  right  to  prevent  another  from 
working  for  low  wages  ?     Why  ? 

753.  How  may  a  person  get  the  highest  wages  that  are 
paid  for  his  class  of  work  ? 

By  doing  the  best  work. 

754.  What  kind  of  laborers  does  everybody  want? 
Those  that  are  the  most  honest,  steady,  and  reliable. 


HIRING   AND   RENTING   PROPERTY. 

755.  What  are  meant  by  hiring  and  renting  ? 

We  hire  the  services  of  a  person  or  an  animal,  and 
rent  the  use  of  houses  or  land. 

756.  How  should  we  use  a  hired   horse  or  a  rented 
house  ? 

Use  them  with  the  same  care  we  would  our  own. 

757.  Should  we  overwork  a  hired  horse? 

No  ;  it  would  be  cruelty  to  the  horse  and  injustice  to  its 
owner. 

BORROWING. 

758.  What  is  meant  by  borrowing? 

It  is  an  agreement  to  take  goods  or  money  from  another, 
with  the  promise  of  returning  the  same  thing,  or  some- 
thing of  the  same  kind  of  equal  amount  or  value,  at  a 
given  time. 

759.  What  are  those  two  parties  called  ? 
The  borrower  and  the  lender. 


176  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


The  Sorrowed  Tiger. 

Cardinal  Alberoni  had  a  large  quantity  of  silver-plate, 
and  among  other  articles  he  possessed  various  salt-cellars, 
wrought  in  the  form  of  different  animals.  A  friend  of 
his  Eminence  borrowed  a  salt-cellar  made  in  the  shape  of 
a  tiger,  but  forgot  to  return  it  for  some  time.  At  length, 
after  the  lapse  of  six  or  seven  months,  he  sent  it  back, 
requesting  at  the  same  time  the  loan  of  another  in  the 
shape  of  a  tortoise.  The  cardinal  desired  to  see  the  person 
who  had  brought  the  message.  "  You  are  sent,"  said  he, 
"  by  the  Signor  to  borrow  one  of  my  salt-cellars  ?" 
"  Yes,  your  Eminence ;  I  am  his  steward." 
"  You  will  be  good  enough  to  tell  your  master  that  I  lent 
him  one  in  the  form  of  a  tiger,  which  is  one  of  the  swiftest 
of  the  animals  on  the  earth,  and  it  has  been  more  than  six 
months  in  returning  :  were  I  to  lend  him  the  tortoise,  which 
is  the  slowest  of  animals,  I  fear  it  would  never  return." 

760.  Kelate  the  story  of  the  borrowed  tiger. 

761.  What  is  the  duty  in  borrowing? 

The  duty  of  the  borrower  is  to  fulfil  exactly  the  terms 
of  the  agreement. 

762.  What  is  the  danger  in  borrowing? 

There  is  danger  that  borrowers  may  neglect  or  forget  to 
return  the  articles  in  good  order  and  at  the  right  time. 

763.  What  may  borrowers  lose  by  their  neglect? 
They  may  lose  their  good  name  for  honesty,  carefulness, 

and  truthfulness. 


BORROWING  BOOKS. 

764.  Is  it  safe  to  borrow  books  ? 

Many  people  do  not  like  to  lend  books.     They  are  so 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  177 

easily  injured  that  it  is  often  a  trial  of  friendship  to  have 
them  soiled  or  torn. 

765.  What  special  care  should  be  taken  by  the  borrower 
of  books? 

Books  should  be  very  carefully  used,  and  promptly  re- 
turned to  the  lender  after  they  have  been  read. 

766.  Is  it  right  for  a  person  who  has  borrowed  a  book 
to  lend  it? 

Not  without  the  owner's  consent. 

The  two  following  questions  need  not  be  ansioered  aloud : 

767.  Are  you  a  borrower  ? 

768.  Do  you  always  comply  with  the  terms  of  your 
contract  ? 

769.  A  boy  borrows  a  knife,  and  accidentally  breaks  it ; 
what  should  he  do  ?     Why  ? 

BORROWING  MONEY. 

770.  Why  do  persons  borrow  money  ? 

Persons  borrow  money  to  invest  in  trade,  that  they  may 
realize  a  profit  on  it. 

771.  What  is  meant  by  interest? 

It  is  money  paid  for  the  use  of  borrowed  money. 

772.  What  rule  should  always  govern  the  borrower  and 
lender  of  money  ? 

773.  Is  it  right  for  the  money-lender  to  ask  a  reasonable 
Interest  for  the  loan  of  money  ? 

Yes,  for  the  same  reason  that  it  is  right  to  ask  hire  for 
the  use  of  a  horse,  or  rent  for  the  use  of  a  house. 

774.  How  may  a  person  easily  lose  credit  for  honesty? 
By  borrowing  small  sums  of  money  and  neglecting  to 

pay  according  to  promise. 

775.  What  is  meant  by  usury  ? 

It  means  an  illegal  or  exorbitant  rate  of  interest. 

12   - 


178  THE  PRIMER  OF  POLITENESS. 

776.  Should  a  lender  take  advantage  of  the  necessities 
of  the  borrower  to  exact  an  excessive  rate  of  interest  ? 

No  more  than  he  should  in  ordinary  times  to  exact  an 
excessive  price  for  wheat. 

True  Pride. 

A  young  man  named  Parks,  from  Worcester,  entered  the 
store  of  the  Lawrences,  in  Boston,  and  found  Amos  in  the 
office.  He  represented  himself  as  having  just  commenced 
business,  and  desired  to  purchase  a  lot  of  goods.  He  had 
recommendations  as  to  character  from  several  influential 
citizens  of  Worcester,  but  none  touching  his  business  stand- 
ing or  capacity.  The  merchant  listened  to  his  story,  and  at 
its  close  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  no  doubt,"  he  said,  kindly,  "  that  you  have  full 
faith  in  your  ability  to  promptly  meet  the  obligations  you 
would  now  assume,  but  I  have  no  knowledge  of  your  tact 
or  capacity,  and,  as  you  are  just  launching  out  on  the  sea 
of  business,  I  should  be  doing  you  a  great  injustice  to  allow 
you  to  contract  a  debt  which  I  did  not  feel  assured  you 
could  pay  at  the  proper  time." 

But  Mr.  Lawrence  liked  the  appearance  of  the  young 
man,  and  finally  told  him  that  he  would  let  him  have  what 
goods  he  could  pay  for  at  the  cost  of  manufacture, — about 
ten  per  cent,  less  than  the  regular  wholesale  price.  The 
bill  was  made  out  and  paid,  and  the  clerk  asked  where  the 
goods  should  be  sent. 

"  I  will  take  them  myself,"  said  the  purchaser. 

"  You  will  find  them  rather  heavy,"  suggested  the  clerk, 
smiling. 

"  Never  mind  ;  I  am  strong,  and  the  stage-office  is  not 
far  away ;  and,  besides,  I  have  nothing  else  to  occupy  my 
time." 


HABITS  OF  BUSINESS.  179 

"  But/7  said  the  clerk,  expostulating,  "  it  is  hardly  in 
keeping  with  your  position  to  be  shouldering  such  ponder- 
ous bundles  through  the  city." 

"  There  you  mistake/'  replied  the  young  man,  with  sim- 
ple candor.  "  My  position  just  now  is  one  in  which  I 
must  help  myself,  if  I  would  be  helped  at  all.  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  carry  anything  which  I  honestly  possess,  nor 
am  I  ashamed  of  the  strength  which  enables  me  to  bear 
this  heavy  burden." 

Thus  speaking,  he  shouldered  a  large  bundle,  and  had 
turned  towards  the  outer  door,  when  Mr.  Lawrence,  who 
from  his  office  had  overheard  the  conversation,  called  him 
back. 

"  Mr.  Parks,  I  have  concluded  to  let  you  have  what 
goods  you  want  on  time.  Select  at  your  pleasure." 

The  young  man  was  surprised. 

"  You  have  the  true  pride  for  a  successful  merchant, 
sir,"  pursued  Mr.  Lawrence,  "  and  I  shall  be  much  disap- 
pointed if  you  do  not  prosper." 

Amos  Lawrence  was  not  disappointed.  Within  fifteen 
years  from  that  time  Mr.  Parks  was  one  of  the  most  enter- 
prising and  successful  merchants  in  Boston. 

777.  Relate  the  story  of  Mr.  Parks,  who  got  goods  on 
credit. 

778.  What  is  meant  by  getting  goods  on  time? 

The  merchant  lets  the  customer  have  goods  to  be  paid 
for  at  a  future  time. 

779.  What  is  meant  by  losing  credit? 

A  man  loses  credit  when  people  believe  he  is  either 
unable  or  unwilling  to  pay  his  debts. 

780.  What  reason  had  Mr.  Lawrence  for  refusing  to  sell 
the  young  man  goods  on  time  ? 

781.  Why  did  he  change  his  mind  ? 


180  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

782.  What  was  "  the  true  pride  of  a  successful  mer- 
chant" ? 

783.  How  did  Mr.  Parks  use  his  credit,  and  what  was 
the  result  ? 


COVETOUSNESS. 

784.  What  is  meant  by  covetousness  ? 
An  undue  desire  to  acquire  property. 

785.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  about  covetousness? 
It  says,  "  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor's  house  .  .  . 

nor  anything  that  is  thy  neighbor's." 

786.  Why  is  covetousness  immoral  ? 

Because  an  improper  desire  to  get  property  may  lead  to 
the  use  of  very  improper  means. 

787.  What  are  some  of  the  sins  to  which  covetousuess 
leads? 

It  leads  to  lying,  cheating,  gambling,  and  stealing. 

Covetousness  Punished. 

M.  Dugar,  provost  of  the  merchants  in  the  city  of 
Lyons,  was  a  man  remarkable  for  the  strict  and  impartial 
administration  of  justice.  The  bakers  flattered  themselves 
that  they  could  prevail  upon  him  to  be  their  friend  at  the 
expense  of  the  public.  They  waited  upon  him  in  a  body, 
and  begged  leave  to  raise  the  price  of  bread.  He  told 
them  that  he  would  examine  their  petition,  and  give  them 
an  answer  very  soon ;  before  they  left  the  room  they  con- 
trived slyly  to  drop  a  purse  of  two  hundred  louis  d'or  on 
the  table.  They  soon  called  upon  the  magistrate  for  an 
answer,  not  in  the  least  doubting  but  the  money  had  effec- 
tually pleaded  their  cause. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  M.  Dugar,  "I  have  weighed  your 


CO  VETO  USNESS.  181 


reasons  in  the  balance  of  justice,  and  I  find  them  light.  I 
do  not  think  the  people  ought  to  suffer  under  a  pretence  of 
the  dearness  of  corn,  which  I  know  to  be  ill-founded.  As 
to  the  purse  of  money  which  you  left  with  me,  I  am  cer- 
tain that  I  have  made  such  a  generous  and  noble  use  of  it 
as  you  yourselves  intended;  I  have  distributed  it  among 
the  poor  objects  of  charity  in  our  hospitals.  As  you  are 
opulent  enough  to  make  such  large  donations-,  I  cannot  pos- 
sibly think  that  you  can  incur  any  loss  in  your  business, 
and  I  therefore  shall  continue  the  price  of  bread  as  it  was 
before  I  received  your  petition." 

788.  Relate  the  story  of  covetousness  punished. 

789.  What  did  the  bakers'  covetousness  lead  them  to 
attempt  ? 

They  tried  to  bribe  a  public  officer. 

790.  How  did  the  provost  punish  them  for  their  crime  ? 

791.  Is  there  anything  we  may  covet  without  injury  to 
ourselves  or  our  neighbor  ? 

We  may  covet  purity,  gentleness,  kindness,  and  charity, 
and  the  good  fruits  of  an  honest  life. 

792.  Why  may  these  virtues  be  coveted  ? 

LOST   PROPERTY. 

Honesty  the  Best  Policy. 

A  clergyman  in  England,  with  a  large  family  and  a 
small  salary,  once  found  a  purse  of  gold,  which  he  carried 
home;  and  being  distressed  for  the  want  of  money  was 
almost  persuaded  to  use  some  of  it,  but  he  refrained,  alleg- 
ing that  "  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  and  that  it  was  his 
duty  to  try  to  find  the  owner.  This  he  soon  did,  but  the 
owner  only  gave  him  thanks  as  his  reward,  which  exposed 
the  good  man  to  some  reproaches  from  his  family.  A  few 
months  afterward,  however,  the  same  gentleman  sent  for 

Q 


182  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

the  clergyman  to  dinner,  and  presented  him  a  church  with 
a  salary  of  three  hundred  pounds  a  year  and  fifty  pounds  for 
present  use.  He  went  home  to  his  family  with  joy,  and 
they  readily  agreed  with  him  that  in  the  end  "  Honesty  is 
the  best  policy." 

793.  Relate  the  story  of  the  restored  purse. 

794.  Should  we  ask  any  reward  for  restoring  a  lost  purse  ? 
We  have  no  right  to  demand  pay  for  being  honest. 

795.  If  the  finder  of  property  has  been  put  to  cost  and 
trouble  in  taking  care  of  it,  or  in  advertising  it,  what  may 
he  demand  ? 

The  owner  should  pay  all  reasonable  expenses  for  getting 
back  his  property. 

796.  Did  the  clergyman  do  wrong  to  accept  a  present 
from  the  owner  upon  the  return  of  his  purse  ? 

797.  If  the  owner  cannot  be  found,  who  shall  get  the 
property  ? 

The  finder  has  the  next  best  right  to  it. 

798.  What  should  be  done  with  articles  lost  and  found 
at  school  ? 

799.  How  may  lost  articles  at  school  be  advertised  ? 

800.  What  should  the  finder  do  with  property  he  has 
found  ? 

801.  What  temptation  is  offered  the  finder  of  property  ? 

802.  If  the  finder  of  property  conceals  it,  what  crime 
does  he  commit  ? 

WILD   GAME. 

803.  If  a  man  catches  fish  in  the  stream  and  kills  squir- 
rels in  the  woods,  to  whom  do  they  belong  ? 

They  belong  to  those  who  capture  them,  because  before 
they  were  taken  they  had  no  owner. 

804.  Where  may  we  fish  and  hunt  game  ? 


COVETOUSNESS.  183 


Wherever  the  law  permits  and  the  land-owners  make  no 
objection. 

805.  If  the  owner  of  the  land  objects,  have  we  a  right 
to  go  upon  his  land  to  hunt  or  fish  ? 

Certainly  not. 

806.  May  you  take   fish   from  your   neighbor's   pond 
without  his  permission  ?     Why  ? 

807.  What   is  the  difference  in  the  ownership  of  the 
fish  in  a  public  stream  and  those  in  a  private  pond  ? 

GAMBLING. 

808.  What  is  meant  by  gambling? 

1st.  It  is  playing  at  games  of  skill  or  chance  for  money 
or  other  valuables. 

2d.  Or  it  is  betting  for  money  or  other  property. 

809.  What  is  a  gambler? 

It  is  a  person  who  practises  gaming. 

810.  Why  is  gambling  wrong? 

1st.  It  is  the  result  of  covetousness,  which  tries  to  obtain 
money  or  other  valuables  without  work. 

2d.  Nothing  is  given  in  exchange  for  money  won  in 
gambling. 

3d.  Because  it  leads  to  quarrelling  and  often  to  murder. 

811.  What  is  the  character  of  gamblers  generally? 
They  are  generally  cheats  and  hypocrites. 

812.  To  what  habits  does  gambling  lead? 
To  habits  of  idleness,  dishonesty,  and  crime. 

An  Eye  for  a  Pin. 

Two  boys  named  Abel  and  Asa  were  at  the  same  school 
in  New  York,  each  about  ten  years  old,  not  brothers,  but 
school-mates  and  class-mates.  Both  of  them  had  irritable 
tempers,  and  had  been  taught  to  think  they  must  resent 
injuries  and  defend  their  rights  at  all  hazards.  Playing 


184  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

pin  was  a  favorite  amusement  in  the  school.  They  played 
in  this  way  :  two  boys  would  take  a  hat  and  set  it  down 
between  them  ;  then  each  boy  would  lay  a  pin  on  top  of  the 
crown,  and  then  knock  it, — first  one,  and  then  the  other. 
The  one  that  could  knock  the  pins  so  that  they  would  lie 
across  each  other  had  them  both.  During  recess  one  day 
Abel  and  Asa  were  playing  pin.  They  knocked  the  pins 
about  some  time.  Both  became  much  excited  in  the  game. 
Finally,  Abel  knocked  the  pins  so  that,  as  he  said,  one  lay 
across  the  point  of  the  other.  Asa  denied  it ;  Abel  declared 
they  did,  and  snatched  up  both  pins.  Asa's  anger  flashed 
in  a  moment,  and  he  struck  Abel  in  the  face.  This  excited 
Abel's  wrath.  They  began  to  fight,  the  other  boys  clus- 
tering around,  not  to  part  them,  but  to  urge  them  on. 
Some  cried,  "  Hit  him,  Abel  !"  and  some,  "  Give  it  to 
him,  Asa !"  thus  stimulating  them  to  quarrel.  The  boys 
seized  each  other,  and  finally  came  tumbling  to  the  ground, 
Abel  on  top.  Then  Abel,  in  his  fury,  went  to  beating 
Asa  in  his  face  till  the  blood  spouted  from  his  nose  and 
mouth  and  till  Asa  lay  like  one  dead.  Then  the  boys 
pulled  Abel  off.  But  Asa  could  not  get  up.  The  boys 
began  to  be  alarmed;  they  were  afraid  Abel  had  killed 
him.  The  teacher  was  called.  He  carried  Asa  in,  washed 
the  blood  from  his  face,  and  recovered  him  from  his  stupor. 
He  examined  his  face  and  head,  and  found  them  bruised 
in  a  shocking  manner.  One  of  his  eyes  was  so  hurt  and 
swollen  he  could  not  open  it.  And  from  that  time  the 
sight  of  it  grew  more  and  more  dim,  till  it  went  out  in 
total  darkness.  So  Asa  lost  an  eye,  and  Abel  put  it  out, 
merely  for  a  pin  ! 

813.  Relate  the  story  of  an  eye  for  a  pin. 

814.  Is  playing  for  pins  gambling  ? 
See  question  No.  808. 


CO  VETO  USNESS.  185 


815.  If  it  be  wrong  to  gamble  for  dollars,  is  it  right  to 
gamble  for  cents  ?     Why  ? 

816.  If  it  be  wrong  to  gamble  for  money,  is  it  right  to 
gamble  for  marbles,  tops,  or  pins  ? 

817.  Why  is  it  wrong  to  gamble  for  marbles  or  pins? 
The  habit  of  gambling  for  little  things  may  lead  to  the 

habit  of  gambling  for  money. 

818.  Is  it  right  to  play  games  of  skill  and  chance  when 
we  do  not  gamble  ? 

Certainly ;  we  may  play  for  amusement  and  recreation  if 
we  do  not  gamble. 

819.  Are  all  games  alike  innocent? 

There  is  a  difference ;  some  offer  greater  temptations  to 
gambling  than  others. 

For  a  further  discussion  of  this  subject,  see  ike  chapter  on 
the  Practical  Application  of  Politeness  in  Play. 

THE   LOTTERY. 

820.  What  is  a  lottery  ? 

A  lottery  is  a  scheme  of  prizes  and  blanks  which  are 
drawn  by  lot,  upon  the  payment  of  a  sum  of  money  for  a 
ticket. 

821.  What  is  a  raffle? 

A  raffle  is  a  kind  of  lottery,  in  which  the  players  pay  for 
a  chance  to  win  a  prize  by  the  throwing  of  dice,  or  by 
shooting  at  a  mark. 

Lottery  and  Suicide. 

In  1833  an  adventurer  in  lotteries  committed  suicide  in 
the  city  of  Boston  by  drowning  himself.  He  was  in  the 
employment  of  one  of  the  most  respectable  houses  in  the 
city,  highly  esteemed  and  respected  by  the  members  of  it, 
and  in  the  receipt  of  a  liberal  salary.  About  a  year  before 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  draw  a  prize  in  the  lottery,  and 


THE  PRIMER    OF  POLITENESS. 


from  that  moment  his  ruin  was  sealed.  The  regular  earn- 
ings of  honest  industry  were  no  longer  enough  for  him,  — 
visions  of  splendid  prizes  were  continually  flitting  before 
his  eyes,  and  he  plunged  at  once  into  the  intoxicating  ex- 
citement of  lotteries.  He  soon  became  deeply  involved, 
and  his  access  to  the  funds  of  the  firm  held  out  to  him  a 
temptation  which  he  could  not  resist.  He  appropriated  to 
himself  considerable  sums  from  time  to  time,  continually 
deluded  by  the  hope  that  a  turn  of  the  wheel  would  give 
him  the  means  of  replacing  them.  But  that  turn  never 
came;  fortune  gave  him  but  one  smile,  and  that  was  a  fatal 
one.  He  saw  that  detection  would  soon  come,  and  that  the 
punishment  and  the  shame  of  a  felon  would  succeed  to  the 
consideration  and  respect  he  had  always  enjoyed,  and  he 
had  not  courage  to  wait  the  moment  of  disclosure.  He 
sought  refuge  in  death,  and  added  to  his  other  sins  the 
horrible  act  of  self-murder.  He  left  a  memorandum,  which 
contained  an  account  of  the  circumstances  that  made  life 
intolerable  to  him. 

822.  Relate  the  story  of  the  lottery  and  suicide. 

823.  What  were  the  successive  wrong  steps  in  the  young 
man's  course? 

824.  What  was  the  last  step  he  took,  and  his  reason  for 
taking  it? 

825.  What  effect  have  lotteries  upon  the  people  who 
gamble  at  them  ? 

It  makes  them  idle,  superstitious,  and  restless,  for  they 
live  in  the  hope  that  their  lucky  number  will  give  them  a 
prize  without  the  trouble  of  working  for  it. 

CHURCH-FAIR   LOTTERIES. 

826.  Is  a  lottery  for  a  church  better  than  any  other  lot- 
tery? 


CO  VETO  USNESS.  187 


827.  Why  is  a  church-fair  raffle  better  than  any  other  ? 

828.  Is  the  habit  of  gambling  learned  at  a  church  fair 
different  from  the  same  habit  learned  in  a  gambling-saloon? 

829.  Does  the  cause  for  which  people  gamble  sanctify 
the  gambling  ?     Why  ? 

830.  Is  it  right  to  arouse  the  covetousness  of  our  neigh- 
bor by  selling  him  a  lottery  ticket?     Why? 

831.  Is  it  the  desire  of  doing  good,  or  the  hope  of  draw- 
ing a  prize  that  leads  people  to  take  chances  at  church- 
festival  lotteries  ? 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud : 

832.  Do  you  gamble  with  pins  and  marbles  ? 

833.  Do  you  sell  tickets  for  church-fair  raffles,  and  thus 
tempt  others  to  gamble  ? 

834.  Do  you  expect  to  grow  up  with  gambling  habits  ? 
Why? 

835.  Are  you  brighter,  smarter,  or  better  able  to  stand 
the  temptations  of  covetousness  than  others  who  have  been 
ruined  by  this  vice  ? 

STEALING. 

836.  What  is  meant  by  stealing  ? 

Stealing  is  the  taking  and  carrying  away  of  the  goods  of 
another  without  his  knowledge  and  consent. 

837.  What  desire  leads  people  to  steal  ? 
Covetousness  leads  people  to  take  what  does  not  belong 

to  them. 

838.  What  is  he  called  who  steals  ? 

839.  How  much  or  how  little  should  one  steal  to  be  a 
thief?     Why? 

840.  What  does  the  moral  law  say  about  stealing  ? 
It  says,  "  Thou  shalt  not  steal." 

841.  What  does  that  mean  ? 


188  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

It  means  thou  shalt  not  take  anything  from  anybody 
without  his  knowledge  and  consent. 

842.  May  we  not  take  fruit  from  an  orchard,  or  melons 
from  a  field,  in  fun  ?     Why  ? 

843.  Is  there  any  fun  in  stealing?     To  whom? 

844.  What  shall  we  call  the  taking  of  an  apple  from  a 
wagon,  or  a  slate-pencil  from  a  desk  ? 

845.  Does  the  crime  of  stealing  depend  upon  the  value 
of  the  thing  taken  ? 

846.  How  may  habits  of  stealing  be  formed  ? 

An  Honest  Boy. 

During  a  terrible  conflagration  in  Virginia  City,  while 
the  fire  was  raging,  and  thousands  of  houses  were  going 
to  destruction  on  the  tempest  of  flame,  a  boy  presented 
himself  at  the  house  of  W.  H.  Smith,  superintendent  of 
the  Belcher,  and  asked  what  he  could  do  to  render  them 
assistance.  The  servant-girl  handed  him  a  small  box  con- 
taining jewels  and  other  valuables  to  the  amount  of  six 
thousand  dollars,  requesting  him  to  carry  it  to  Wells,  Fargo 
&  Co.'s  office. 

He  did  so,  and,  with  a  business  tact  far  beyond  his  years, 
demanded  a  receipt  therefor.  This  was  refused.  He  was 
told  the  vault  was  closed,  but  that  they  would  put  the  box 
with  other  things.  He  told  them  the  box  belonged  to  Mr. 
Smith,  and  if  they  would  not  give  him  a  receipt  therefor, 
he  would  take  charge  of  it  himself. 

The  fire  passed.  The  home  of  Mr.  Smith,  went  with 
the  other  buildings,  and  he  was  compelled  to  find  accom- 
modations elsewhere.  He  thus  missed  the  boy,  and  the 
boy  him.  He  advertised  for  the  boy,  and  as  soon  as  the 
lad  knew  where  to  find  him  he  returned  the  box,  not  a 
jewel  missing. 

One  does  not  know  which  to  admire  most,  his  honesty 


COVETOUSNESS.  139 


or  the  keen  business  tact  which  told  him  that  a  receipt  was 
necessary  to  prove  he  had  been  faithful  to  his  trust. 

847.  Relate  the  story  of  the  honest  boy. 

848.  Suppose  the  boy  had  hid  the  jewel-box  and  said 
nothing,  what  then  ? 

849.  Would  he  probably  have  been  as  happy  to  have 
retained  the  box,  or  to  return  it  as  he  did  ?     Why? 

850.  What  effect  would  the  return  of  the  box  have  had 
upon  the  boy's  conscience  ?     Why  ? 

851.  What  eifect  would  the  knowledge  of  the  fact  by 
others  have  upon  the  reputation  of  the  boy  ? 

The  moral  law  says, "  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen 
than  great  riches." 

852.  How  shall  we  gain  a  good  name  for  honesty? 

By  being  strictly  honest  in  little  things  as  well  as  in  great 
matters. 

The  Incorruptible  Duke. 

The  Duke  of  Wellington  was  a  distinguished  example 
of  dogged  British  fidelity.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that 
he  just  escaped  being  "  stupid,"  but  his  stupidity  consisted 
mainly  in  his  peculiar  blindness  to  the  "  advantages"  of 
doing  wrong.  When  tempted  to  treachery  or  inveigled 
into  any  crooked  dealing  he  "  couldn't  see  it." 

When  Lord  Wellington  was  commander  of  an  army  in 
India,  a  certain  rich  man  offered  him  five  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  for  some  secret  information  on  a  very  im- 
portant question.  Wellington  looked  thoughtfully  a  few 
moments,  as  if  he  was  weighing  the  temptation.  But  he 
was  not.  He  was  only  considering  the  best  way  to  answer 
his  tempter.  At  length  he  said, — 

"  It  appears  that  you  can  keep  a  secret,  sir  ?" 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  man,  feeling  sure  he  had  gained 
his  point. 


THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


"  So  can  I,"  rejoined  Wellington.  "  Good-morning,  sir." 
And  the  man  went  away  with  a  chop-fallen  air. 

853.  Relate  the  story  of  the  incorruptible  duke. 

854.  What  is  the  difference  between  getting  money  as  a 
bribe  and  stealing? 

855.  Could  the  man  who  would  offer  a  bribe  be  trusted 
with  an  important  secret  ? 

A  rascal  who  would  bribe  a  person  would  betray  him  if 
he  thought  it  to  his  interest  to  do  so.  A  liar  or  a  thief 
cannot  be  safely  trusted. 

The  following  three  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

856.  Do  you  try  in  all  things  to  be  perfectly  honest  ? 

857.  Are  you  forming  habits  of  strict  honesty  in  all  your 
transactions  at  home  and  at  school  ? 

858.  Can  you  be  trusted  by  everybody  as  entirely  worthy 
of  confidence  ? 

PUBLIC   PROPERTY. 

859.  What  is  the  property  called  that  belongs  to  the 
town,  the  city,  or  to  the  State  ? 

It  is  called  public  property,  and  belongs  to  the  people. 

860.  Name  some  buildings  that  are  public  property. 
The  bridge,  the  court-house,  the  school-house,  etc. 

861.  Why  are  these  buildings  said  to  be  public  prop- 
erty? 

Because  they  were  built  by  the  taxes  collected  from  the 
people. 

862.  Who  have  the  right  to  use  these  buildings  ? 
They  are  used  by  and  for  the  people. 

863.  Can  public  property  be  converted  to  private  uses  ? 
It  may  be,  under  proper  restrictions. 

864.  What  are  the  restrictions  ? 

1st.  That  the  private  use  does  not  interfere  with  the 
public  use. 


COVETOUSNESS. 


2d.  That  the  permission   be  secured  from  the  proper 
officers  who  are  authorized  to  give  it. 

865.  As   every  citizen  has   an   interest   in  the  public 
property,  has  any  citizen,  therefore,  a  right  to  injure  or 
destroy  it  ? 

No  one  has  a  right  to  injure  or  destroy  anything  that 
does  not  wholly  belong  to  himself. 

866.  Has  a  man  a  right  to  destroy  his  own  property  ? 
Yes,  as  long  as  the  destruction  does  no   harm   to  his 

neighbors  or  to  society. 

867.  What  would  be  your  impression  of  a  family  whose 
house  is  defaced  and  dirty  ? 

868.  What  should  you  think  of  a  school  whose  rooms 
are  dirty,  whose  seats  and  desks  are  defaced,  whose  doors 
and  walls  are  abused  ? 

869.  If  a  family  is  judged  by  the  neatness  and  cleanliness 
of  the  home,  is  it  fair  to  judge  of  the  good  taste  of  the 
teacher  and  pupils  from  the  condition  of  the  school-house  ? 

870.  Who  should  have  the  credit  or  discredit  of  a  neat, 
clean,  \vell-kept  school  or  its  opposite  ? 

The  following  five  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud : 

871.  Do  you  mark  the  walls,  deface  the  doors,  and  cut 
the  furniture  of  your  home  ?     Why  ? 

872.  Is  your  name  scribbled  on  the  school- house  prem- 
ises ?     Why? 

873.  Have  you  ever  defaced  the  school-house  by  mark- 
ing or  whittling  ?     Why  ? 

874.  Is  your  desk  defaced  by  cutting  or  marking  ? 

875.  Can  you  by  your  words  and  example  prevent  such 
abuse  of  the  school  property  ? 


192  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


PEAOTIOAL  APPLICATION   OF   THE  PBINCIPLES   OF 
POLITENESS  AT  HOME, 

876.  What  is  your  duty  to  your  family  at  home? 

It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  of  the  family  to  try  to 
make  the  rest  happy. 

877.  What  rule  should  govern  each  member  of  the  fam- 
ily? 

"  Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them." 

878.  How  do  the  members  of  a  family  stand  to  each 
other  ? 

As  superiors,  equals,  and  inferiors. 

879.  What  are  the  rights  of  each  member  ? 

Each  should  be  treated  according  to  his  station,  with 
kindness  and  politeness. 

880.  When  only  should  each  one  claim  his  rights  ? 
Only  when  he  has  faithfully  done  his  duty. 

RISING  IN  THE  MORNING. 

881.  What  should  we  do  when  called  in  the  morning? 
Rise  promptly,  so  that  no  one  be  kept  waiting  on  our 

account. 

882.  What  are  the  first  duties  of  the  morning? 

To  dress  promptly,  wash  the  face  and  hands,  and  comb 
or  brush  the  hair. 

883.  How  should  we  leave  the  sleeping-room  ? 
Everything  should  be  left  in  good  order. 

884.  How  should  the  wash-stand  be  left  ? 

The  water  in  the  basin  should  be  emptied,  and  the  towels 
properly  hung  up. 

885.  How  should  we  keep  each  room  ? 


POLITENESS  AT  HOME.  193 

1st.  There  should  be  a  place  for  everything,  and  every- 
thing should  be  kept  in  its  place. 

2d.  Everything  should  be  kept  neat  and  clean. 
3d.  Always  leave  the  room  in  good  order. 

ENTERING  ROOMS. 

886.  How  shall  we  enter  a  private  room  ? 

Always  knock  before  entering  a  private  room  when  we 
are  not  expected. 

887.  How  shall  we  enter  an  office  or  other  public  place? 
Always  enter  without  knocking. 

888.  Of  what  use  are  the  scraper  and  mat  at  the  door  ? 

889.  How  shall  we  use  the  door  on  entering  or  leaving 
a  room  ? 

1st.  If  the  season  requires  it,  we  should  always  close  the 
door. 

2d.  The  door  should  be  closed  gently,  and  not  slammed. 

890.  How  shall  we  receive  a  visitor? 

1st.  Answer  the  knock  or  ring  at  the  door  promptly. 

2d.  Invite  the  visitor  in,  who  will  state  the  object  of  the 
visit. 

3d.  If  on  an  errand,  offer  the  visitor  a  seat  while  you 
carry  the  message. 

4th.  If  on  a  visit,  treat  the  visitor  with  politeness,  asking 
him  or  her  into  the  room  for  visitors. 

891.  Returning  from  school,  what  does  good  breeding 
require  ? 

1st.  The  boys  will  always  remove  their  hats  when  en- 
tering the  house. 

2d.  Hang  up  all  wraps,  hats,  and  bonnets. 

3d.  Put  by  books,  umbrellas,  overshoes,  in  their  proper 
places. 

892.  When  shall  the  boys  whistle  and  the  girls  scream? 
Perhaps  for  the  comfort  of  the  other  members  of  the 

13 


194  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

house  they  had  better  not  whistle  or  scream.    If  they  must 
do  so,  let  them  go  to  the  barn. 

893.  If  any  one  whistles  as  a  signal  to  come  out  of  the 
house,  what  should  we  do  ? 

We  should  decline  such  an  invitation  and  send  the  dog. 

894.  Is  it  polite  to  sneak  about  a  house  and  whistle  for 
some  one  to  come  out  ? 

It  would  be  more  manly  and  polite  to  knock  or  ring  at 
the  door  and  inquire  for  the  person  wanted. 

895.  How  should  we  arrange  our  time  at  home  ? 

We  should  have  regular  times  for  work,  for  study,  and 
for  play. 

896.  If  attending  school,  when  should  we  attend  social 
parties  and  merry-makings  ? 

Better  not  go  to  such  affairs  if  they  would  interfere  with 
school. 

897.  If  about  equal  in  age,  what  should  govern  brothers 
and  sisters  in  going  to  places  of  amusement  and  in  visiting? 

They  should  go,  if  possible,  together. 

898.  What  kind  of  manners  should  we  practise  at  home  ? 
We  should  always  practise  at  home  what  it  would  be 

polite  to  practise  away  from  home. 

HOME   ENGAGEMENTS. 

899.  How  should  engagements  be  kept  ? 
Everybody  should  be  punctual  to  an  engagement. 

A  Royal  Reproof. 

T/Then  Queen  Victoria  was  about  thirty  years  younger 
than  she  is  now,  she  was  inclined  to  be  very  exact  in  the 
way  of  business,  and  more  especially  in  the  way  of  prompt- 
ness to  appointed  times  and  places.  Seven  years  a  queen, 
four  years  a  wife,  and  three  years  a  mother,  she  felt,  prob- 


POLITENESS  AT  HOME.  195 

ably,  a  more  weighty  dignity  resting  upon  her  than  she  has 
felt  since.  And  yet,  no  crust  of  dignity  or  royal  station 
could  ever  entirely  shut  out  her  innate  goodness  of  heart. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  speak,  the  Duchess  of  Suther- 
land held  the  office  of  mistress  of  the  robes  of  the  British 
queen,  and  on  public  occasions  her  position  was  very  near 
her  royal  person,  and  deemed  of  great  importance.  A  day 
and  an  hour  had  been  appointed  for  a  certain  public  cere- 
mony in  which  the  queen  was  to  take  part. 

The  hour  had  arrived,  and  of  all  the  court  the  duchess 
alone  was  absent,  and  her  absence  retarded  the  departure. 
The  queen  gave  vent  more  than  once  to  her  impatience, 
and  at  length,  as  she  was  about  to  enter  the  carriage  with- 
out her  first  lady  of  honor,  the  duchess,  in  breathless  haste, 
made  her  appearance,  stammering  some  faint  words  of  ex- 
cuse. 

"  My  dear  duchess,"  said  the  queen,  smiling,  "  I  think 
you  must  have  a  bad  watch." 

And  as  she  thus  spoke,  she  unloosed  from  her  neck  the 
chain  of  a  magnificent  watch  she  herself  wore,  and  passed 
it  around  the  neck  of  Lady  Sutherland. 

Though  given  as  a  present,  the  lesson  conveyed  with  it 
made  a  deep  impression.  The  proud  duchess  changed  color, 
and  a  tear,  which  she  could  not  repress,  fell  upon  her  cheek. 
On  the  next  day  she  tendered  her  resignation,  but  it  was 
not  accepted.  It  is  said  that  ever  afterwards  she  was,  if 
anything,  more  punctual  than  the  queen  herself. 

900.  Relate  the  story  of  the  royal  reproof. 

901.  Why  should  the  members  of  a  family  be  punctual  ? 
While  we  may  waste  our  own  time,  we  have  no  right  to 

waste  the  time  of  our  neighbor. 

902.  What  is  the  effect  on  the  character  of  those  who 
are  not  punctual  ? 


196  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

People  who  fail  to  make  good  their  promises  soon  lose 
their  good  name  for  truthfulness. 


PBAOTIOAL  APPLICATION   OF    THE    PEINOIPLES    OP 
POLITENESS  AT  THE  TABLE. 

903.  May  we  be  tardy  in  coming  to  our  meals  ? 
Nothing  disturbs  the  pleasure  of  a  family  so  much  as 

irregularity  at  meals. 

904.  Why  is  tardiness  at  meals  in  a  private  family  so 
annoying  ? 

The  tardiness  of  one  interferes  with  all;  any  delay 
disturbs  the  business  order  of  the  whole  house. 

905.  What  effect  has  tardiness  on  the  servants  ? 

It  interferes  with  their  work.  We  have  no  right  un- 
necessarily or  carelessly  to  cause  them  trouble  even  though 
they  are  paid  for  their  services. 

906.  How  shall  we  treat  servants  ? 
See  question  158. 

907.  How  shall  we  sit  at  table? 
See  question  No.  235. 

908.  What  should  be  the  dress  at  meals? 

1st.  Our  dress  should  correspond  with  that  of  the 
company. 

2d.  It  should  not  offend  by  not  being  clean. 

3d.  Men  and  boys  should  not  come  to  table  in  their 
shirt-sleeves. 

909.  Why  should  not  men  and  boys  come  to  table  in 
their  shirt-sleeves  ? 

It  may  be  that  they  have  been  overheated,  and  the  odor 
of  perspiration  would  be  particularly  disagreeable  at  table. 

910.  How  should  the  elbows  be  held  at  table  ? 


POLITENESS  AT  THE   TABLE.  197 

They  should  not  be  rested  upon  the  table,  but  held  near 
the  sides,  so  as  not  to  interfere  with  our  neighbors. 

911.  What  shall  be  done  with  the  hands? 

1st.  When  not  using  the  knife,  fork,  or  spoon  the  hands 
should  rest  upon  the  napkin  in  the  lap. 

2d.  The  hands  should  never  scratch  or  rub  the  head  or 
face  during  meals. 

912.  How  shall  we  behave  if  we  are  hungry  ? 

It  is  in  very  bad  taste  to  appear  greedy  or  hungry. 

913.  How  shall  guests  be  seated  at  table  ? 

The  lady  of  the  house  should  always  arrange  her  guests, 
and  the  seat  of  honor  should  be  given  to  the  stranger  or  to 
the  eldest. 

914.  Who  should  be  helped  first  at  table? 

The  strangers  and  the  elders  first ;  the  ladies  before  the 
gentlemen,  and  the  young  people  last. 

915.  How  shall  we  act  if  we  do  not  like  some  of  the 
dishes? 

It  is  very  impolite  to  appear  dainty  at  the  table,  but  if 
we  have  a  distaste  for  any  dish  we  need  not  eat  it. 

916.  When  shall  the  guests  begin  to  eat  ? 

Not  until  all  are  helped.  If  there  are  several  courses, 
the  guests  should  begin  each  course  together. 

917.  May  we  talk  when  we  eat? 

Care  should  be  taken  not  to  talk  or  drink  when  we  are 
eating,  lest  we  be  set  coughing. 

918.  If  it  be  necessary  to  cough  at  table,  what  should 
we  do? 

We  should  turn  the  head  from  the  table  and  cover  the 
mouth  with  the  hand  or  with  the  napkin. 

919.  Is  it  polite  to  spit  or  to  blow  the  nose  at  table? 

It  is  very  rude  to  spit  or  to  blow  the  nose.  If  it  be 
necessary  to  do  either,  we  had  better  quietly  leave  the 
table. 


198  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 


KNIFE,   FORK,   AND   SPOON. 

920.  How  shall  we  use  our  knife,  fork,  and  spoon  ? 
1st.  The  knife  is  to  be  used  for  cutting  the  food,  while 

the  fork  and  the  spoon  are  used  to  convey  the  food  to  the 
mouth. 

2d.  We  should  not  use  our  own  knife  or  spoon  to  take 
butter  or  sauce  from  the  common  dish.  We  should  use  the 
butter-knife  and  the  table-spoon. 

TABLE-CLOTH  AND  NAPKIN. 

921.  How  should  the  napkin  be  used  ? 

The  napkin  should  be  used  to  wipe  the  mouth  and  the 
finger-tips.  If  there  be  no  napkin,  the  handkerchief  should 
be  used.  The  napkin  should  not  be  used  as  a  handkerchief 
to  wipe  perspiration  from  the  face. 

922.  How  should  the  table-cloth  be  used  ? 

Great  care  should  be  taken  not  to  soil  it,  nor  should  it 
ever  be  used  as  a  napkin  to  wipe  the  fingers. 

923.  At  the  close  of  the  meal  what  shall  we  do  with  the 
napkin  ? 

1st.  Fold  it  neatly,  and  put  it  in  the  napkin-ring  to  be 
used  again. 

2d.  If  we  do  not  expect  to  use  it  again,  as  at  a  hotel,  lay 
it  carefully  beside  the  plate. 

CONVERSATION  AT  TABLE. 

924.  What  subjects  of  conversation  should  be  introduced 
at  the  table  ? 

Only  such  subjects  should  be  spoken  of  as  are  interesting 
to  the  company.  But  of  this  the  elders  must  be  the  judge. 

925.  What  care  should  be  taken  in  the  conversation  ? 


POLITENESS  AT  THE   TABLE.  199 

1st.  We  should  be  careful  not  to  allude  to  anything  that 
may  excite  Unpleasant  emotions  or  disgust. 

2d.  The  younger  members  of  the  company  should  be 
very  modest,  and  not  intrude  their  opinions  unless  they 
are  asked. 

926.  When  asked  for  an  opinion,  how  should  it  be  given  ? 
Kindly,  politely,  and  respectfully. 

927.  What  should  young  folks  particularly  avoid  ? 
They  should  never  make  themselves  the  subjects  of  re- 
mark, or  the  heroes  of  their  own  story. 

THE   SERVANTS. 

928.  Should  any  accident  happen  at  table,  how  should 
we  treat  it  ? 

We  should  not  take  notice  of  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  hurt 
one's  feelings. 

929.  How  may  we  call  the  servant  ? 

A  gentle  tapping  upon  the  cup  with  the  spoon  will  attract 
the  attention  of  the  servant. 

930.  How  shall  we  treat  the  servants  at  table  ? 
Always  treat  them  politely.     It  is  very  rude  to  reprove 

a  servant  in  presence  of  company. 

931.  How  shall  we  ask  to  be  helped  ? 

Always  say,  "  Will  you  please  help  me ?"  and  say 

it  distinctly,  so  as  not  to  be  misunderstood. 

932.  How  shall  we  acknowledge  attentions  at  table  ? 
Always  with  a  pleasant  smile  and  a  kind  "  I  thank  you." 

933.  How  shall  we  use  the  cup  and  saucer  ? 

We  should  drink  from  the  cup,  and  not  from  the  saucer. 

934.  How  may  we  show  our  wish  to  have  our  plates 
changed  ? 

Place  the  knife  and  fork  side  by  side  on  the  plate,  and 
the  servant  will  see  that  the  plate  is  to  be  changed. 

935.  What  assistance  shall  we  render  at  the  table? 


200  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

At  a  hotel  it  is  not  expected  that  anybody  will  render 
assistance  at  table  except  the  servants,  but  among  friends 
at  a  private  table  each  guest  should  see  that  all  the  rest  are 
provided  for. 

LEAVING  THE  TABLE. 

936.  When  shall  we  leave  the  table? 

It  is  impolite  to  leave  the  table  until  all  are  done  eating. 
If  one  must  leave,  he  should  ask  the  company  to  excuse 
him. 

937.  Should  we  take  nuts  or  fruit  with  us  when  we  leave 
the  table? 

It  is  very  rude  to  take  anything  from  the  table  unless  we 
first  ask  permission  of  the  lady  who  presides  at  the  table. 

938.  Should  gentlemen  smoke  after  meals  in  a  private 
house  ? 

They  had  better  not,  unless  they  are  invited  to  do  so.  It 
may  be  very  disagreeable  to  the  household. 


PEAOTIOAL  APPLICATION   OP  THE  PRINCIPLES   OF 
POLITENESS  ON  THE  STBEET. 

STREET  DRESS. 

939.  How  should  people  dress  to  walk  upon  the  street? 
1st.  The  dress  should  not  be  such  as  to  attract  undue 

notice  upon  the  street. 

2d.  It  should  always  be  suited  to  the  season. 

3d.  The  immodesty  of  women  may  be  inferred  if  they  do 
not  regard  the  proprieties  of  dress  on  the  street. 

940.  How  should  persons,  particularly  boys  and  girls, 
behave  on  the  street  ? 


POLITENESS  ON  THE  STREET.  201 

1st.  They  should  never  appear  anxious  to  attract  public 
notice  by  rudeness  to  each  other. 

2d.  They  should  never  talk  or  laugh  in  such  a  manner 
as  would  lead  strangers  to  suppose  they  wished  to  be  ob- 
served. 

PASSING  ON  THE  STREET. 

941.  How  should  we  pass  each  other  on  the  street  and 
sidewalk  ? 

1st.  Each  should  pass  to  the  right. 

2d.  Each  should  give  the  other  the  half  of  the  way. 

942.  How  shall  a  person  pass  when  going  in  the  same 
direction  ? 

The  one  wishing  to  pass  should,  if  possible,  go  to  the  left. 

943.  How  shall  a  lady  and  gentleman  walk  together 
upon  the  pavement? 

On  the  street  people  meet  and  pass  to  the  right.  If  the 
lady  walks  on  the  right  of  the  gentleman  in  a  crowded 
street,  she  will  be  less  likely  to  be  jostled  than  if  she  walked 
on  his  left. 

944.  In  crossing  a  muddy  street  which  should  go  first, 
the  lady  or  the  gentleman  ? 

The  gentleman  should  go  first,  for  the  same  reason  that 
he  should  go  first  up  a  flight  of  stairs. 

945.  When  a  lady  and  gentleman  meet  upon  the  street, 
which  shall  speak  first  ? 

The  lady  is  always  expected  to  speak  first. 

946.  If  the  lady  is  veiled  should  the  gentleman  recog- 
nize her? 

Unless  she  removes  her  veil  she  shows  she  does  not  wish 
to  be  recognized.  Being  veiled,  the  gentleman  might  not 
recognize  her  if  he  wished. 

947.  If  young  people  meet  their  superiors,  who  should 
speak  first? 


202  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

The  superiors  should  always  speak  first,  and  the  young 
people  should  not  speak  till  they  are  addressed. 

948.  How  should  a  boy  return  the  politeness  of  a  lady 
or  gentleman  who  speaks  to  him  on  the  street  ? 

He  should  return  the  compliment  by  taking  off  his  hat. 

949.  If  intimate  friends  should  meet  on  the  street,  or 
in  any  public  place,  should  they  embrace  and  kiss  each 
other? 

It  is  not  considered  in  good  taste  for  friends  to  appear 
affectionate  in  public. 

950.  Should  a  gentleman  smoke  when  walking  in  public 
with  a  lady  ? 

It  does  not  appear  respectful  to  the  lady,  even  if  it 
is  done  with  her  consent. 

951.  Is  it  polite  for  men  and  boys  to  stand  upon  the 
streets  to  make  comments  on  those  who  pass? 

No  gentleman  could  be  guilty  of  such  rudeness. 

952.  How  should  we   always  treat  strangers  who  are 
seeking  information  on  the  street  ? 

A  civil  question  always  demands  a  civil  answer. 

Only  a  Broken  Hoop. 

It  was  a  little  thing,  so  worthless  that  it  had  been 
thrown  in  the  street,  yet  it  did  a  deed  of  violence  and 
blood, — it  was  but  a  broken  iron  hoop.  Some  one  wished 
to  get  rid  of  it,  and  so  it  rested  quietly  in  a  public  street, 
where  thousands  of  horses  and  men  and  women  pass.  A 
New  York  paper  tells  the  rest  of  the  story : 

Mr.  William  McGuire,  a  wealthy  builder  of  Brooklyn, 
was  riding  in  a  light  top  buggy  with  his  son,  behind  a 
spirited  horse.  The  front  wheel  of  the  buggy  passed 
over  a  broken  hoop,  which  entangled  itself  in  the  spokes, 
leaving  one  end  projecting  from  the  wheel. 


POLITENESS   ON  THE  STREET.  203 

As  the  wheel  revolved,  this  projecting  point,  ragged  and 
sharp,  struck  the  horse  in  the  flank,  and  at  every  revolu- 
tion of  the  wheel  repeated  the  blow.  The  horse  bounded 
forward,  and  sped  over  the  pavement. 

As  the  iron  inflicted  its  repeated  stings,  the  horse 
plunged  in  a  mad  gallop.  Mr.  McGuire,  who  had  tried 
to  check  him,  suddenly  grew  pale  and  said  to  his  son, 
"  Charlie,  we're  gone !" 

The  wheels,  catching  in  a  car  track,  upset  the  carriage 
in  an  instant.  Mr.  McGuire  was  thrown  a  complete  som- 
ersault, alighting  on  his  head  and  shoulders.  His  son, 
who  clung  to  the  reins,  was  thrown  out  on  his  hip. 

Mr.  McGuire's  skull  was  fractured  and  his  collar-bone 
broken.  He  was  carried  home  in  an  ambulance.  He 
died. 

It  was  a  thoughtless  act,  the  throwing  of  that  hoop 
into  a  public  street,  and  the  evils  of  this  world  result 
largely  from  the  want  of  consideration. 

953.  Relate  the  story  of  the  broken  hoop. 

954.  Have  we  a  right  to  throw  rubbish  on  the  streets 
or  in  the  road  ?     Why  ? 

955.  Is  it  a  sufficient  excuse,  when  we  throw  broken 
glass,  or  orange-peel,  or  apple-parings  upon  the  sidewalk, 
to  say,  "  I  did  not  think"  ?     Why  ? 

956.  Who  is   responsible  for  accidents  resulting  from 
such  carelessness  ? 

SPORTS   ON   THE  STREETS. 

957.  Is  it  right  to  make  the  sidewalk  a  sliding-place  in 
winter  ? 

958.  If  an  old  person  should  fall  and  break  a  leg  or  an 
arm  on  the  sliding-place,  who  would  be  responsible  ? 

959.  What  principle  should  govern  right-minded  boys 


204  TEE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

as  to  the  throwing  of  stones,  snow-balls,  or  fire-crackers  in 
the  streets  ? 

960.  Are  the  rolling  of  hoops,  the  playing  of  ball,  the 
flying  of  kites,  and  other  such  amusements,  proper  in  the 
streets,  where  people  and  horses  are  passing?     Why? 

961.  Whose  property  is  a  handbill  or  poster? 

962.  Is   it   right  to  disturb  posters,  handbills,  finger- 
boards, and  other  such  signs  that   are  intended  to  give 
information  to  the  public  ?     Why  ? 

963.  Is  it  proper  to  write  our  own  or  others'  names  in 
public  places  ? 

Modest,  well-bred  people  never  deface  property  in  that 
way,  or  court  notoriety  by  putting  themselves  before  the 
public  in  that  way. 

How  Friendship  was  Broken. 

Two  young  ladies  of  the  town  of  W.,  in  Pennsylvania, 
were  life-long  friends.  They  had  grown  up  together  as 
neighbors  and  school-mates,  and  were  inseparable  as  com- 
panions. One  was  somewhat  singular  in  appearance, 
having  a  short  neck  and  very  broad,  square  shoulders,  that 
gave  an  impression  of  physical  deformity.  But  what  she 
lacked  in  physical  grace  was  more  than  made  up  by  the 
sweetness  of  her  temper  and  the  gentleness  of  her  disposi- 
tion. She  was  kind  and  loving  to  every  one,  but  very 
sensitive  as  to  her  physical  defects. 

There  was  at  the  academy  a  young  man  who  possessed 
some  skill  as  an  artist.  He  had  observed  the  peculiarity 
of  Miss  N.,  and  with  a  cruel  desire  for  fun  at  the  expense 
of  an  unoffending  lady,  who  could  not  resent  the  insult, 
he  drew  a  caricature  of  her  upon  the  inside  walls  of  an 
unoccupied  building.  It  soon  became  noised  around  that 
a  funny  caricature  of  Miss  N.  had  been  placed  there. 
Drawn  by  curiosity,  the  place  was  visited  by  Miss  M.  in 


POLITENESS  AT  CHURCH.  205 

company  with  another  and  older  woman,  but  it  did  not  occur 
to  either  of  them  that  they  had  any  office  of  friendship  to 
perform  in  the  matter. 

Shortly  after  Miss  N.,  having  heard  that  she  had  been 
made  the  subject  of  a  cruel  jest,  called  upon  her  friend, 
and  told  her  that  she  had  learned  there  was  a  caricature 
in  the  house  referred  to  which  was  as  disgraceful  as  it  was 
cruel. 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  M.,  "  Mrs.  H.  and  I  saw  it  there." 

"  And  did  you  not  rub  it  out  ?"  said  Miss  N". 

"  Why,  no,"  said  Miss  M. ;  "  we  never  thought  of  that." 

"  Then  1  cannot  feel  that  you  are  my  friend." 

From  that  time  the  friendship  was  broken. 

964.  Relate  the  story  of  how  friendship  was  broken. 

965.  What  should  we  do  if  we  should  see  our  own  or 
our  friends'  names  scribbled  in  a  public  place  ? 

966.  What  motive  should  govern  us  in  everything  we 
do  on  the  public  streets  or  in  public  places  ? 

We  should  act  like  well-bred  people,  giving  to  every 
one  every  right  we  claim  for  ourselves,  interfering  with 
nobody,  offending  nobody. 


PBAOTIOAL  APPLICATION   OF   THE    PEINOIPLES    OP 
POLITENESS  AT  OHUBOH, 

967.  For  what  purpose  are  churches  built? 
They  are  built  to  promote  the  worship  of  God. 

968.  Do  all  people  agree  in  their  worship  of  God? 
No.     There  is  a  great  difference  among  people  in  re- 
ligious belief  and  worship. 

969.  Why  are  there  so  many  kinds  of  churches  ? 


206  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

Those  who  think  alike  about  God  worship  together  in 
their  own  church. 

970.  Have  we  a  right  to  compel  others  to  think  and 
worship  God  as  we  do  ? 

No.  Every  one  has  a  right  to  worship  God  in  the  way 
he  thinks  best. 

971.  How  should  persons  behave  in  their  own  church  ? 
Well-bred  people  always  show  respect  for  God's  house 

and  his  worship. 

972.  How   should   persons   behave   who  visit  strange 
churches  ? 

1st.  They  should  always  respect  the  rights  and  feelings 
of  those  who  worship  there. 

2d.  They  should  join  in  the  worship  if  in  accordance 
with  their  belief. 

973.  How  do  impolite,  irreverent  people  sometimes  dis- 
turb religious  services  ? 

1st.  By  coming  in  late. 
2d.  By  appearing  restless  and  inattentive. 
3d.  By  talking,  laughing,  and  writing  notes  to  each 
other. 

974.  If  we  do  not  believe  as  the  people  of  the  church 
do,  have  we  a  right  to  disturb  them  ? 

As  we  are  under  no  obligations  to  attend,  the  least  we 
can  do  is  to  behave  properly  while  there. 

Irreverence  Rebuked. 

It  is  both  wicked  and  silly  to  behave  irreverently  in 
church.  A  student  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  Eng- 
land, was  once  sharply  reminded  of  this  truth.  Shortly 
after  Rev.  Robert  Robinson,  noted  in  his  day  as  a  preacher 
and  sayer  of  good  things,  was  settled  over  the  Baptist  church 
in  that  town,  a  bet  was  made  by  a  party  of  students.  One 
of  them  wagered  that  he  would  stand  on  the  pulpit-stairs 


POLITENESS  AT  CHURCH.  207 

with  a  large  ear-trumpet  in  his  hand,  and  remain  there  till 
the  end  of  the  service.  Accordingly,  one  Sunday  he  mounted 
the  stairs,  put  the  trumpet  to  his  ear,  and  gravely  played  the 
part  of  a  deaf-mute.  His  friends,  scattered  through  the 
church,  tittered  at  the  hoax.  The  congregation  were  in- 
dignant, but  the  preacher  seemed  unmoved.  The  sermon 
was  on  the  mercy  of  God,  and  the  preacher  soon  gave  a 
practical  illustration  of  it,  saying, — 

"  Not  only,  my  Christian  friends,  does  the  mercy  of  God 
extend  to  the  most  enormous  of  criminals,  so  that  none, 
however  guilty,  may  not,  if  duly  penitent,  be  partakers  of 
the  divine  grace,  but  also  there  are  none  so  low,  so  mean, 
so  worthless  as  not  to  be  objects  of  God's  fatherly  solici- 
tude and  care.  Indeed,  I  do  hope  that  it  may  one  day  be 
extended  to" — then,  leaning  over  the  pulpit,  he  stretched 
out  his  arm,  and,  placing  it  on  the  student's  head,  finished 
his  sentence — "  to  this  silly  boy  \" 

The  wager  was  lost,  for  the  trumpet  fell,  and  the  abashed 
student  retired. 

975.  Relate  how  irreverence  was  rebuked. 

976.  What  reason  could  be  given  by  the  young  man  for 
such  behavior  ?     Was  it  witty  or  smart  ? 

977.  How  should  we  treat  strangers  at  church  ? 

1st.  We  should  see  that  they  are  invited  to  a  comfortable 
seat. 

2d.  We  should  offer  them  whatever  books  are  necessary 
for  them  to  unite  in  the  service. 

978.  How  should  we  act  when  visiting  a  strange  church  ? 
1st.  We  should  take  the  seat  offered  us. 

2d.  We  should  thank  those  who  are  polite  to  us. 
3d.  We  should  never  disturb  the  congregation  by  leaving 
before  the  services  are  ended. 

4th.  We  should  never  spit  upon  the  floors. 


203  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

5th.  When  the  services  are  ended,  we  should  not  show 
unbecoming  haste  in  getting  away. 

6th.  We  should  not  stand  around  the  door  after  the 
services  are  ended  and  gaze  upon  the  congregation  as 
they  leave  the  church. 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud: 

979.  Do  you  always  behave  respectfully  in  church  ? 

980.  Do  you  sit  where  you  can  be  readily  seen,  or  do 
you  sneak  back  to  escape  observation  ? 

981.  Do  you  run  in  and  out  during  the  services,  and 
disturb  the  congregation? 

982.  Is  your  conduct  in  church  always  such  as  to  meet 
the  approval  of  good  people  ? 


PEAOTIOAL  APPLICATION   OF  THE   PBINOIPLES   OF 
POLITENESS   AT  PLAT, 

983.  What  things  is  it  desirable  that  children  should 
know  about  play  ? 

They  should  know, — 

1st.  When  to  play. 

2d.  What  to  play. 

3d.  With  whom  to  play ;  and 

4th.  How  to  play. 

984.  When  should  children  play  ? 

1st.  When  play  interferes  with  no  duty  at  home. 

2d.  When  it  interferes  with  no  duty  at  school. 

3d.  At  suitable  hours. 

4th.  At  regular  times. 

5th.  When  it  is  agreeable  to  parents  or  guardians. 

985.  What  should  children  play  ? 


POLITENESS  AT  PLAY.  209 

1st.  Such  games  or  plays  as  are  approved  by  our  parents. 
2d.  Such  as  are  approved  generally  by  good  people. 
3d.  Such  as  will  not  endanger  health. 
4th.  Such  as  will  not  endanger  others. 
5th.  Such  as  will  not  interfere  with  others'  rights. 
6th.  Such  as  will  not  lead  into  bad  places  or  bad  company. 
7th.  Such  as  will  not  create  bad  habits. 
8th.  Such  as  will  not  interfere  with  duties  of  home  or 
school. 

986.  Give  such  games  or  plays  as  are  approved  or  dis- 
approved above,  and  your  reason  why. 

987.  With  whom  should  children  play  ? 

1st.  With  such  playmates  as  our  parents  prefer. 

2d.  With  such  as  have  good  characters. 

3d.  With  such  as  we  know  have  good  habits. 

988.  Give  the  reason  for  the  above  three  answers. 

989.  How  should  children  play? 

1st.  So  that  others  shall  enjoy  our  company. 

2d.  Always  in  good  temper. 

3d.  Always  with  kindness  and  politeness. 

PEACTICAL  JOKES. 

990.  What  is  a  practical  joke  ? 

It  is  a  deception   practised  upon   another  in   order  to 
make  him  the  subject  of  ridicule. 

991.  Why  are  practical  jokes  always  harmful  ? 
1st.  They  are  the  result  of  deception. 

2d.  They  are  always  rude  and  offensive. 

A  Silly  Practical  Joke. 

A  young  woman  about  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  daugh- 
ter of  a  prominent  man  on  Staten  Island,  visited  a  New 
York  dentist  not  long  since  and  had  some  teeth  extracted 
s*  14 


210  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

after  taking  laughing-gas.  She  then  determined  to  have 
some  fun  with  the  folks  at  home  by  telegraphing  that  she 
was  dead.  She  accordingly  sent  a  despatch  to  her  pastor, 
who  was  preaching  at  the  time,  in  observance  of  St.  An- 
drew's day,  that  she  had  died  from  the  effects  of  inhaling 
laughing-gas.  The  startling  announcement  created  excite- 
ment among  the  congregation,  the  young  lady  being  well 
known  to  them  all.  The  services  were  at  once  concluded, 
and  word  was  sent  to  her  father,  who  hastened  to  the  den- 
tist's rooms.  There  he  was  surprised  as  well  as  overjoyed 
to  ascertain  that  his  daughter  had  but  a  short  time  pre- 
viously started  for  home  in  excellent  health.  When  asked 
by  her  parents  what  induced  her  to  send  such  a  despatch, 
she  said  that  she  did  it  for  fun. 

992.  Relate  the  silly  practical  joke. 

993.  In  what  did  the  young  woman's  fun  consist  ? 

994.  What  would  you  call  her  conduct  ? 

A  Stupid  Practical  Joke. 

The  clerks  in  a  Boston  book-store  had  acquired  a  habit 
of  playing  off  little  tricks  upon  one  another, — practical 
joking,  they  called  it, — and  one  of  the  tricks  was  this :  If 
one  of  the  clerks  chanced  to  see  another  in  a  stooping  pos- 
ture, selecting  books  from  lower  shelves,  he  would  seize  a 
board,  perhaps  part  of  a  box-cover,  and  smartly  spank  the 
stooping  victim. 

Jerry  P.  was  one  of  these  clerks,  a  simple-minded,  good- 
natured  fellow  from  Vermont,  always  ready  and  willing 
for  the  hardest  kind  of  work,  and  prized  by  his  employers 
accordingly.  Jerry  had  of  late  been  the  chief  victim  of 
the  spanking  process,  and  he  was  determined  upon  revenge, 
— not  with  malevolence,  nor  yet  with  indignation,  but 


POLITENESS  AT  PLAY.  211 

simply  in  the  way  of  fair  play.  To  this  end  he  watched 
for  an  opportunity. 

One  afternoon,  upon  returning  to  the  store  from  an 
errand,  the  longed-for  opportunity  seemed  to  present  itself, 
and  Jerry  seized  it  instantly.  At  the  far  end  of  one  of  the 
long  counters  he  saw  an  individual  overhauling  books  on 
the  very  bottom  shelf,  his  body  bent  at  a  most  tempting 
angle.  Jerry  was  sure  it  was  Tom  S.,  from  whose  hands 
he  had  received  many  an  emphatic  spankr  and  now  was  the 
time  to  pay  off  old  scores.  So  he  selected  a  splendid 
board,  and  creeping  noiselessly  to  the  spot,  he  gave  the 
stooping  man  a  blow  that  sounded  through  the  store  like 
the  bursting  of  a  retort,  and  brought  him  to  an  erect  posi- 
tion like  a  jack-in-a-box. 

Here  was  a  fix.  Tom  S.,  at  the  sound  of  the  blow, 
appeared  from  another  part  of  the  store,  while  the  gentle- 
man who  had  been  struck  stood  in  utter  bewilderment, 
rubbing  away  at  the  aching  part  most  assiduously;  and 
poor  Jerry  then  discovered,  to  his  dismay  and  deep  regret, 
that  he  had  struck  his  employer's  pastor,  Rev.  Dr.  B., 
who  had  been  curiously  searching  among  a  lot  of  old  Greek 
and  Hebrew  books.  Jerry  wept  with  shame  and  confusion, 
and  was  forgiven;  and  from  that  time  that  particular 
species  of  amusement  was  discontinued  in  the  store. 

995.  Relate  Jerry's  stupid  blunder. 

996.  Do  tears  always  relieve  us  from  the  effects  of  stupid 
jokes?     Why? 

997.  Is  a  joke  of  that  kind  very  funny  after  all  ? 

A  Thoughtless  Practical  Joke. 

Mr.  Prescott,  the  historian,  lost  the  use  of  one  of  his 
eyes  by  rough  play  in  college.  After  dinner,  one  day,  in 
Commons  Hall,  a  student,  bent  on  having  a  little  fun, 


212  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

threw  a  hard  crust  of  bread.  It  struck  young  Prescott  in 
the  eye,  inflicting  a  severe  wound,  from  whose  effects  he 
never  recovered.  The  nerves  were  so  seriously  injured 
that  their  tone  could  not  be  restored,  and  the  eye  was  of 
tittle  use  for  the  rest  of  life. 

Mr.  Prescott,  with  his  generous  nature,  cherished  no 
feelings  of  resentment  towards  the  student  who  had  in- 
flicted such  a  grievous  injury.  But  he  thought  it  singular 
that  no  apology  was  made  and  no  regret  expressed ;  and 
every  honorable  mind  shares  his  wonder.  The  code  of 
college  honor  is  often  strangely  perverted  from  virtue  and 
justice.  Collegians  who  think  it  no  disgrace  to  be  guilty 
of  mean  and  unjust  acts,  count  it  very  degrading  to  their 
dignity  to  make  an  apology.  The  offender  against  Mr.  Pres- 
cott must  have  been  one  of  this  class.  He  had  no  sense  of 
shame  for  the  reckless  act  that  inflicted  a  life-long  injury. 

998.  Relate  the  thoughtless  practical  joke  by  which  Mr. 
Prescott  lost  his  eye. 

999.  Was  the  careless  throwing  of  a  bread-crust  in  a 
crowd  of  students  fun  ?     Was  it  fun  to  Prescott  ?    Why  ? 

1000.  What   should   the   student  who  did   the   injury 
have  done?     Why? 

A  Serious  Practical  Joke. 

It  takes  two  to  make  a  joke,  as  it  takes  two  to  make  a 
quarrel,  and  unless  the  two  are  the  right  persons,  the  joke 
will  be  likely  to  end  in  a  quarrel. 

The  London  Pictorial  World  has  the  following:  "One 
day,  in  Regent  Street,  I  saw  a  friend  looking  into  a  shop- 
window,  and  in  a  very  tempting  position.  He  wore  a 
frock-coat,  and  his  white  pocket-handkerchief  was  just 
exposed.  It  were  easy  to  show  him  how  easy  a  pocket 
were  picked,  I  said  to  myself,  and  proceeded  to  extract  the 


POLITENESS  AT  PLAY.  213 

tempting  pocket-handkerchief.  In  the  act  of  my  amateur 
larceny  he  turned  round.  To  my  horror,  I  found  it  was 
not  my  friend  I  I  protested  I  had  made  a  mistake  ;  that  I 
thought  it  was  So-and-so,  the  very  image  of  him ;  that  I 
was  picking  pockets  for  fun,  and  so  on.  He  said  that  was 
all  very  well,  but  he  could  not  be  '  kidded7  in  that  fashion. 
He  had  a  duty  towards  society  to  perform.  He  positively 
gave  me  in  charge !  In  a  minute  the  horror  of  my  position 
flashed  across  me.  I  saw  my  name  in  the  police  reports. 
I  heard  in  anticipation  the  remarks  of  kind  friends,  '  It 
looks  very  suspicious/  and  so  on ;  and  I  felt  that  my  life 
would  be  written  for  the  World.  But,  luckily,  the  police- 
man refused  to  take  the  charge,  and  '  recognize  me  as  a 
pickpocket/  " 

1001.  Kelate  the  story  of  the  serious  practical  joke. 

1002.  What  is  meant  when  it  is  said  that  it  takes  two 
to  make  a  joke  ? 

1003.  Why  was  the  joke  so  serious  and  so  hard  to 
explain  ? 

Tlie  Oruel  Practical  Joke. 

Tormenting  in  fun  is  the  worst  possible  joking,  and  tor- 
menting in  spite  is  the  poorest  kind  of  vengeance.  The 
Albany  (Missouri)  Ledger  says, — 

"  Several  days  since  Mr.  Shaul,  in  company  with  one  or 
two  other  men,  started  to  Albany  in  a  wagon,  and  a  dog 
belonging  to  one  of  the  men  was  following,  which  was 
against  the  wish  of  the  parties.  So  they  concluded  to  tie 
a  small  bunch  of  hay  to  his  tail,  which  they  did,  and  satu- 
rated it  with  coal  oil  and  set  it  on  fire.  The  dog  no  sooner 
discovered  his  peril  than  he  started  to  run,  going  between 
the  horses,  which  became  so  frightened  that  they  ran  away. 
After  this  the  dog  made  for  home,  which  he  reached  in 


214  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

less  time  than  it  takes  to  relate  the  facts  connected  with 
his  arrival.  As  was  natural  he  sought  refuge  in  the  stack- 
yard, and  soon,  to  his  great  satisfaction,  no  doubt,  he  saw 
the  flames  looming  up  from  one  of  the  haystacks.  Mr. 
Shaul  and  friends  hastened  to  the  scene,  and  made  all  the 
efforts  in  their  power  to  extinguish  the  flames,  which  they 
failed  to  do." 

1004.  Relate  the  cruel  practical  joke. 

1005.  Should  cruelty  ever  be  enjoyed  as  fun  ? 

A  Fatal  Practical  Joke. 

A  letter  from  St.  Louis  to  the  New  York  Herald  relates 
how  a  sally  of  coarse  jesting  ended  in  the  death  of  an 
inoffensive  young  man : 

"  One  evening,  not  long  since,  a  number  of  young  men 
and  boys  were  lounging  at  the  corner  of  Jefferson  Avenue 
and  Pacific  Street,  in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  when 
three  men  in  a  buggy  drove  past.  Something  peculiar  in 
the  style  of  the  horse  attached  to  the  buggy  caused  the  boys 
to  hoot  and  utter  coarse  jokes,  whereupon  the  men  in  the 
buggy  pulled  up,  and  considerable  badinage  followed,  dur- 
ing which  some  person  in  the  crowd  crossed  the  reins  in 
the  bridle  of  the  horse.  This  enraged  the  men  in  the 
buggy,  one  of  whom  jumped  out  and  demanded  to  know 
who  did  it.  A  young  man  named  George  Williams,  aged 
twenty-one,  who  was  simply  a  looker-on,  was  pointed  out 
as  the  practical  joker,  and  the  man  from  the  buggy  at- 
tacked him,  and  a  scuffle  ensued,  in  which  a  pistol  was 
discharged.  Young  Williams  fell  to  the  pavement  and 
died  within  three  minutes." 

A  sadly  instructive  chapter  on  the  fruits  of  idleness  and 
ill-manners.  The  trouble  began  with  loafing ;  loafing  led 
to  blackguarding;  blackguarding  brought  on  a  quarrel; 


POLITENESS  AT  SCHOOL.  215 

the  quarrel  ended  in  murder.  And  the  victim  of  the 
murder  was  perhaps  the  only  one  not  to  blame.  That 
the  men  would  have  done  better  to  drive  on  without 
minding  the  insult,  and  were  wrong  too  in  carrying  con- 
cealed fire-arms,  does  not  change  the  responsibility. 

1006.  Relate  the  story  of  the  fatal  practical  joke. 

1007.  Give  the  successive  steps  that  led  to  the  murder. 

1008.  What  rule  would  have  prevented  all  these  prac- 
tical jokes  ? 

1009.  Was  the  result  of  any  of  these  jokes  funny  ? 

1010.  Is  it  safe  to  run  the  risk  of  a  practical  joke? 
Why? 

The  following  questions  need  not  be  answered  aloud : 

1011.  Are  your  amusements  such  as  your  parents  ap- 
prove ? 

1012.  Do  your  plays  interfere  with  your  duties  at  home 
or  at  school  ? 

1013.  Do  you  enjoy  a  practical  joke  on  somebody  else? 

1014.  Do  you  enjoy  a  practical  joke  when  you  are  the 
victim  ? 

1015.  Do  you  lose  your  temper  when  at  play? 

1016.  Do  you  ever  cheat  when  you  play  ? 


PEAOTIOAL  APPLICATION    OF  THE    PKINCIPLES    OF 
POLITENESS  AT  SCHOOL. 

To  the  following   questions  pupils  can  give  their  own 
answers,  with  the  reasons  for  their  opinions : 

1017.  How  should  pupils  act  at  school  as  to  punctuality  ? 

1018.  Regularity  in  attendance?     Why? 

1019.  Obedience  to  school  laws? 


216  THE  PRIMER   OF  POLITENESS. 

1020.  Forgetfulness  of  duty? 

1021.  Preparation  of  lessons? 

1022.  Respectful  attention  to  the  teacher  ? 

1023.  Neat  and  tidy  appearance? 

1024.  Feelings  toward  the  teacher? 

1025.  Feelings  toward  school-mates? 

1026.  Treatment  of  school-mates?     v 

1027.  Treatment  of  tattlers  ? 

1028.  Being  witnesses? 

1029.  The  care  of  our  books? 

1030.  Abusing  and  defacing  school  property  ? 

1031.  Writing  their  own  or  others'  names  on  or  about 
the  school  ? 

1032.  Being  always  polite  and  truthful  ? 

1033.  Defending  the  rights  of  those  who  are  wronged? 

1034.  Always  being  a  peacemaker? 

1035.  Always  daring  to  be  laughed  at  for  doing  right  ? 

1036.  Always  fighting  where  fighting  is  a  duty? 

1037.  Always  refusing  to  fight  when  fighting  would  be 
cowardly  ? 

One  of  these  questions  would  serve  as  a  text,  icith  suitable 
illustration,  for  a  ffteen-minutes'  discussion  each  morning  at 
sdiool. 


THE  END. 


^V'OT  THB 

'UNIVERSITY] 


2l-20in-6,'32 


LI)  2l- 


